Secret Insider Information: Xbox Game Pass Price Hike Imminent!

Highlights

Xbox boss Phil Spencer admits that a future price increase for Xbox Game Pass is inevitable, causing concern among subscribers who have already experienced recent price jumps.

Spencer implies that the service will receive added value, such as the inclusion of more games like Starfield, in conjunction with any potential price increases. Despite the possibility of higher prices, Spencer's transparency is praiseworthy as he acknowledges that Xbox Game Pass will eventually raise its price, even if it's not in the immediate future.

According to Xbox boss Phil Spencer, a price increase for Xbox Game Pass in the future is unavoidable. Over the past few years, many subscription services, including Xbox Game Pass, have raised their prices due to a surge in new subscribers during the pandemic. However, this surge has since declined, leading to concerns from potential Xbox Game Pass users about further price increases. Unfortunately, Spencer is unable to alleviate these concerns.

In the past, Xbox Game Pass has been known for its affordability. Both Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass were priced at $9.99 for a significant period of time, and it was only recently that the price of Xbox Game Pass increased to $10.99. Moreover, Xbox offered a special long-term deal of $1 for users' first month, which allowed them to convert their cheap Xbox Live Gold subscriptions to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. However, this offer is no longer available or has changed, and the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has gone up by $2 per month.

Speaking to Game Watch at TGS, Spencer was questioned about the potential for future price hikes on Xbox Game Pass. The interviewer, an avid subscriber to the service, expressed concern over potential price increases. Spencer's direct response acknowledged that a price increase in the future is inevitable. Notably, he refrained from specifying when exactly this increase would occur, but rather emphasized its eventuality.

Spencer emphasizes the importance of adding value to Xbox Game Pass before considering a price increase. The Xbox team aims to deliver a service that is perceived as valuable. This could involve adding games like Starfield or other enhancements. It is worth noting that Spencer could have evaded the question or lied, but he chose to be honest despite the potential dissatisfaction among Xbox Game Pass subscribers following a recent price hike.

Xbox leveraged the launch of Starfield to alleviate concerns about the new subscription cost for Xbox Game Pass. It's difficult to deny the value of paying between $9.99 and $16.99 to experience the upcoming game from Bethesda Game Studios. However, this might lead Xbox Game Pass subscribers to worry about potential price hikes coinciding with the release of future AAA titles from Xbox's major first-party studios. As the acquisition of Activision nears its completion, it is hopeful that such increases would not occur in conjunction with the annual release of Call of Duty on Xbox Game Pass.