Support NeoGAF

[Radical_3d]

I know people fear this but Xbox has not been keeping Sony in check. It is Xbox that has been paving the way for digital only and price increases in both hardware and subscriptions. They have given Sony the greenlight.

I didn't consider it that way. It's interesting because it's true that Xbox opened the gates of pay for online play, but still I don't see how their 12TF machine for 500$€ of 2020 is rising up the prices.

 

[T-Reks]

I feel like even if I was single, with no wife and kids, no social life and all I did was play video games after work….this would STILL be too much money a month.

Yeah it's too much for me

 

[Punished Miku]

Ubisoft+….classics and Fortnite crap. Gee thanks, totally worth the price increase. I think it's time to sell my series x.

Edit: I would consider it worth if it was full on Ubisoft+, not just old stuff.

It is all crap. Same old shit that hit PS+. I looked and already owned every game I would be interested in. Tried Starlink for 10 min and deleted it. The Ubisoft stuff is mostly trash. I'd try Avatar or Shadows but they're of course not there. No one with GP needs this old crap.

 

[reinking]

I didn't consider it that way. It's interesting because it's true that Xbox opened the gates of pay for online play, but still I don't see how their 12TF machine for 500$€ of 2020 is rising up the prices.

The reason I do not fear Sony pulling a full Spencer is simple. Microsoft can afford to blow up Xbox. They can take those studios, roll them into Microsoft Gaming Studios and be the largest publisher in gaming. Or, they could simply write them off. Xbox is a side hustle for them that never accomplished what it set out to do. Sony cannot afford to blow up the PlayStation brand. It would damage the entire company. I do think prices are going to rise because that is the current world we live in. However, I believe Sony would follow Nintendo down the lower specs road to chase a userbase than they will follow Microsoft to chase $1000+ consoles.

 

[justsomeguy]

Well, this is probably the end of the road for my ultimate subscription... I've been an xbox owner since the original, subscribed to xbox live like nov 17, 2002. Finally found a way to somewhat alienate me, lol.

I don't mind that they raised the price, just that they raised the price so much

Same here if I didn't have access to a friends & family 50% discount but I still feel alienated for what they're doing.

There's a bunch more games added to the service with the Acti Blizz purchase. So it's probably still decent value for what you have access to IF you had infinite time for gaming. But most gamers don't, and $30/mo - 6 full price games a year - just seems nuts.

I suppose one of the lower tiers may still offer value if you give up games day 1, but wasn't that always the game pass unique selling point?

As others have said, this seems designed to funnel people off the service, back to the traditional world of day 1 revenue from sales.

And as my friends at MS have said in the past, so much of this seems driven by the CFO, who put a bunch of financial rules in place about internal profit margins etc. That's basically driving a lot of the weird Xbox decisions over recent times, no doubt including this one.

I do still really like the Xbox ecosystem , but all attempts to differentiate itself from PlayStation are now gone. The answer to "Why buy the next gen Xbox" was always going to be game pass. But now why bother?

The only thing they've got left is removable controller batteries. I'm sorry Phil, that's not enough .

 

[FIREKNIGHT2029]

 

[MatrixReloaded101]

$360 to rent games for 1 year ….

 

[Tacrovy]

 

[justsomeguy]

Just realised how they can make $30/month better value - increase all games to $80 . (Oh wait didn't they try that?)

 

[Serianox]

Jesus the pricing for pc game pass that I've been a sub for a long time went from 36 to 70 local currency almost doubling it. Immediately stopped the sub it makes no sense to keep it for mostly indie games and from time to time playing some of the bigger games from Microsoft when the sub cost alone is pretty much the price of said indie games on their own and the first party stuff just isnt interesting enough on their own to keep my interest in the service.

 

[demigod]

 

[iHaunter]

wait..... Now Two tiers without Day One Games?

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Weren't they hyping The Wizard coming to game pass today?

nah bruh...completly worthless. what a falirue, what a massive failure.

 

[RickSanchez]

as someone who always buys games and never went anywhere near gamepass:

 

[Insanemaelstrom]

Phil <3

Is it only who finds this email to be a bit weird. It doesn't sound professional and feels like it written by someone suffering from Stockholm syndrome. Like that joke villain in an anime that is just there for comedic relief, hyping himself up for his grand plan only for it to predictably fail just like it always does.

It honestly sounds like something I would've written when I was going through depression a few years back.

 

[PixelatedBeast]

I think they might walk back on this price increase. Surprised Microsoft didn't announce this on a Friday night.

Highly unlikely. I cant think of one company that lowered their subscription prices, outside of a holiday sales deal for unsubscribed customers.

I will be surprised if they walk this back. They already tried to raise their games to $80, and that failed. This was the next solution. Nintendo and Microsoft saw Playstation make 30B last year and want a piece of that pie.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Gamestop's Twitter account is ON FIRE tonight

 

[Klayzer]

I know people fear this but Xbox has not been keeping Sony in check. It is Xbox that has been paving the way for digital only and price increases in both hardware and subscriptions. They have given Sony the greenlight.

Greenies are conveniently forgetting, Microsoft is currently leading the way in overpriced hardware and subs. And that's without being the market leader. I shudder, to think, what their prices would be if they were in control of the industry.

 

[kazuyamishima]

So who's left to pretend this is the best deal in gaming?

Taken from another forum, don't know if he's genuine or not, but damn.

 

[Shadowstar39]

Wait they don't even give you games with gold anymore. Psn still does monthly games wirh their base model. I've had it since it came out in what 2010 and have racked up quite the library. I don't need the extras.

I can't imagine paying $30 a month. Also I remember when. $15 a month was a bit much for most gamers back in the day for mmos. Sub model really got people.

 

[Shadowstar39]

Imagine if buying Activion would have made the prices to go up, that would've been terrible

But but, day 1 games and "you can get it for a dollar, easy I swear, just go to that shady website over there"... Lol.

 

[LectureMaster]

 

[kazuyamishima]

Sony's entire gaming division is being propped up by microtransactions, not by delivering great standalone games. Instead of focusing on innovation, gameplay depth, or player value, they've chosen the quick cash grab model. That dependency shows they've lost the creative spark that made them a powerhouse in the first place. On top of that, while the foundation of their revenue is increasingly shallow, Sony keeps doubling down on DEI initiatives and pushing woke agendas in their games and corporate messaging.

But sure, keep believing everything is a-okay

 

[Kacho]

So happy Asmong is back. It's comfort content.

 

[Klayzer]

I read that thinking it was satirical. Didn't realize he was serious.

 

[Insanemaelstrom]

There is another option: you'll see PlayStation unchecked with rampant hardware prices and a PS Plus price increase… maybe as soon as next week. This is how you'll know Xbox is dead.

Personally I cancelled my subscription to ps plus extra when they did their last price increase and haven't missed out much. Buying games is simply far better than renting them through subscriptions.


Also I wonder if the goal is to have an upsurdly high price has a shock value and when you see the expected backlash, lower the price increase(5 usd, instead of 10, for example), and say we are listening to fans and their feedback.

 

[kazuyamishima]

I read that thinking it was satirical. Didn't realize he was serious.

He's always this energetic with anything related to Sony.

 

[Team Andromeda]

Personally I'm not sure that any gaming sub is worth 30 a month. I love the service . Been an GPU subscriber for years. played a tonne and bought a tonne of games I probably would have overlooked.


I'd imagine most will just go with premium or cancel. I'm not happy about double but it's not like 30 bucks is expensive for me, but I'm not sure 30 bucks is a price that I most are willing to shell out for a gaming service. But I guess what with everything costing more these days all this is to be expected.


Deffo not good news but……

If the price increase was adding in nothing new then I'll be inclined to agree, but there's a lot of new content there with the and we all know there was going to be a price rise, because everything gone up since COVID including how much I need to pay for my mobile phone and network & broadband - Thats not making a excuse for MS just the way of the world

When a brand new AAA game cost £70, 30 quid a month for the top tire day one, isn't that extortionate. Game Pass has saved me a massive amount of money and allowed me to play an incredible number of games. I speak as one who was happy with EA Play all those years ago mind

 

[jshackles]

Yep Gamefly looks like a way better option now, if you're in the US. Only downside is you can only play a few games at a time, and they take a few days to arrive. But vastly superior selection, if renting is what you're after.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

 

[bronkonagurski]

I saw the news earlier today and decided to cancel. I was subscribed to Ultimate for a while now, but honestly I was not using Game Pass enough to even justify the older price. The announcement of the price increase was enough to prompt me to take action.

 

[rapid32.5]

I feel like even if I was single, with no wife and kids, no social life and all I did was play video games after work….this would STILL be too much money a month.

People are canceling Netflix in droves will be jumping on Game Pass now. There is no time for both services.

 

[Danny22]

According to IGN after the price increase the game pass website crashed with people cancelling. Lmao. Fantastic strategy MS.

Wait for a MCrosoft moment where they blame it on too many new signups excited for the new subscription.

 

[Barakov]

Everyone's going in.

 

[nashman]

Just canceled had Gamepass since OG xbox. Ghost recon, PGR2, Rainbow6 were first online memories. Have to draw the line somewhere enough is enough.

 

[Black_Stride]

Wait what? I thought that was disproved and that PC game pass is the same just with a 5 dollar increase?

Follow my posts in the thread.

Yes PC Gamepass is still here and still gets Day One games.
The press release just doesnt mention it, the wording also implies PC Gamepass being rolled into the Essential, Premium, Ultimate packages and the Join Gamepass page has PC Gamepass hidden.

Seems they are actually trying to trick PC players into buying one of the other tiers (Ultimate obviously)

 

[justsomeguy]

Bets on "We hear you!" PR in the next few days and smaller hikes?

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

I know people fear this but Xbox has not been keeping Sony in check. It is Xbox that has been paving the way for digital only and price increases in both hardware and subscriptions. They have given Sony the greenlight.

Sony is not being kept by Xbox in check for decade at this point, especially outside of US of A.

Let's be honest, Sony is fighting for your fleeting free time and money with other types of entertainment, not with Xbox or even Nintendo.

Plus the big difference here, PlayStation is the main business for Sony Group, while Xbox is an overdue and aimless toy for Papa MS. Any serious move by PlayStation will be more balanced, keen and less hysterical by the nature of things and with consideration for outside factors. Just look how they are trying to tiptoe around rising material costs and tariffs and compare this with blatant price increases from MS.

 

[Alan Wake]

Xbox go home.

I've been a subscriber since 2017 but I can't justify $30. No way in hell. I have barely used GP this year.

 

[Gonzito]

Many of us called out this company for this shitty subscription service treating games as fast food and we were mocked

I am glad that now we are starting to see the reality of it. Its a cancer for the industry and its actually damaging videogames in the long run

 

[Signalis]

Just canceled had Gamepass since OG xbox. Ghost recon, PGR2, Rainbow6 were first online memories. Have to draw the line somewhere enough is enough.

By cancelling you just took food out of the people at Microsoft's mouths. They need to eat as well

 

[Baemono]

I don't believe the Switch 2 part (PC would've make more sense) and I don't really see the problem with Xbox sales, they were barely selling anything since late 2022 so it's not new information

 

[Ar¢tos]

If the price increase was adding in nothing new then I'll be inclined to agree, but there's a lot of new content there with the and we all know there was going to be a price rise, because everything gone up since COVID including how much I need to pay for my mobile phone and network & broadband - Thats not making a excuse for MS just the way of the world

When a brand new AAA game cost £70, 30 quid a month for the top tire day one, isn't that extortionate. Game Pass has saved me a massive amount of money and allowed me to play an incredible number of games. I speak as one who was happy with EA Play all those years ago mind

 

[DenchDeckard]

Haha, I bet retailers are loving this!

 

[cebri.one]

But game pass was profitable /s

 

[Radical_3d]

Just canceled had Gamepass since OG xbox. Ghost recon, PGR2, Rainbow6 were first online memories. Have to draw the line somewhere enough is enough.

 

[xrnzaaas]

Maybe Rockstar should think about releasing GTA 6 on PC? Just a thought.

Besides it's not like Xbox console owners will stop playing videogames. I'd guess that majority will move on to PC or PS ecosystem.

 

[Negotiator101]

Well, yeah. For $270 a year, Game Pass was terrific value, no question. For $430 a year, it's now half as good. For a time, Xbox was positioning itself as the more cost effective console eco-system. It's largely the place Microsoft was carving out for itself against Sony's "premium gamer" approach and Nintendo's continuing "fuck you, give us money" stance. Hiking their prices simply erodes what was left of their brand's place in the market.

That's some crazy math you got there half as good? 270 to 430? where did you go to school?

 

[bighugeguns]

But game pass was profitable /s

Probably is, but publishers want line go up more, publishers mad.

I'm resubscribing, changed my mind, whatever makes publishers angry is good.

You can offset the extra cost of Gamepass by pirating on PC too, that will make them even more mad.

 

[Three]

Destin is a clown. I mean he can't be so stupid as to think tariffs actually apply to a sub, so I'm presuming his argument is this offsets hardware tariff increases..... except MS is clearly passing on the tariffs...

I think he's gone into a state of sarcastic mocking of MS and its fans.