Microsoft Exec Comments on Xbox Game Pass Price Increase

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A Microsoft leader recently addressed the significant price increase for Xbox Game Pass, which comes after many players expressed their disappointment and anger. Although the subscription service has been very successful and profitable for Microsoft, the new cost is now too high for a lot of gamers, and many have already canceled their subscriptions as a result.

This week, Microsoft revealed it’s raising the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $19.99 to $29.99 each month. They’re also replacing the Standard tier with a new Premium tier, which will cost $14.99 a month and offer access to more games and multiplayer features. To soften the blow of these changes, the service added almost 50 new games for subscribers, including 14 Assassin’s Creed games, Hogwarts Legacy, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and Tom Clancy’s The Division. While some subscribers will appreciate these additions, many are looking for alternatives, upset by the lack of advance notice.

Microsoft Gaming Director Knows That ‘Price Increases Are Never Fun for Anybody’

In a conversation with The Verge, Dustin Blackwell, who leads gaming and platform communications at Microsoft, addressed the price increase and acknowledged the frustration of subscribers. Blackwell stated that the team recognizes that “price increases are never fun for anybody,” but they are also working to improve “more value to these plans as well.” While details are still emerging, the director assured that this wasn’t an easy decision and that Microsoft welcomes player feedback. Shortly after the price changes were revealed, the Xbox Game Pass website experienced outages as many subscribers tried to cancel their subscriptions. It’s currently unknown how many cancellations were processed, or what steps Microsoft’s gaming division will take to regain players’ trust.

Xbox Game Pass is getting several highly anticipated games on the day they launch in 2025, such as Avowed, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Grounded 2, and Hollow Knight: Silksong. Even more big games are planned for later in the year, with Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2 arriving in October. Although the price of Xbox Game Pass has increased since it first launched in 2017, and the number of subscribers keeps growing, it’s still unclear if players will think the service is worth the new, higher cost.

Players aren’t the only ones reacting to Microsoft’s choice. After the announcement this week, GameStop subtly criticized Xbox Game Pass on Twitter. They pointed out to gamers that purchasing used games at a lower price and owning them permanently is a viable alternative to a costly monthly subscription.

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2025-10-03 18:04