Yesterday, January 22nd, Microsoft released a statement regarding Xbox Live pricing. In the post, Microsoft explained that the price for Xbox Live was going up. 1-month memberships were increasing by $1, where-as a 3-month was a $5 increase. This price hike was initially thought to incentivize players into joining Xbox GamePass. Less than 24 hours after their initial post, Microsoft changed their mind.
In an official news post, the Xbox Live Team acknowledges their mistake:
“We messed up today and you were right to let us know. Connecting and playing with friends is a vital part of gaming and we failed to meet the expectations of players who count on it every day. As a result, we have decided not to change Xbox Live Gold pricing.”
“If you are an Xbox Live Gold member already, you stay at your current price for renewal. New and existing members can continue to enjoy Xbox Live Gold for the same prices they pay today. In the US, $9.99 for 1-month, $24.99 for 3-months, $39.99 for 6-months and $59.99 for retail 12-months.”
In addition to reversing the price increase, they revealed also revealed a very welcomed announcement:
“We’re turning this moment into an opportunity to bring Xbox Live more in line with how we see the player at the center of their experience. For free-to-play games, you will no longer need an Xbox Live Gold membership to play those games on Xbox. We are working hard to deliver this change as soon as possible in the coming months.”
This pro-consumer move is very reminiscent of their 2013 fiasco; Removing the requirements of a Kinect sensor on Xbox One. While yesterday’s announcement definitely upset many fans, Microsoft turned it into a “make good” situation. Not only were the changes reversed, but Free To Play games are now actually free! This means games like Rocket League, Fortnite, and Apex Legends are available without a Live membership. Finally, the Xbox platform is on par with PlayStation and PC in not requiring a paywall to play these games. Membership free online play and cross-platform support are the future of gaming, and it looks like Microsoft is heading in the right direction.
What are your thoughts on Microsoft’s decision to axe the price hike? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!
