Microsoft revamps Xbox Game Pass plans and hikes Ultimate to $29.99 a month, Ultimate gets Ubisoft+ Classics and more

That was a fun thread where we were all playing Avowed. Really good game.

Definitely - still one of my favorites for this year!

I only had GP while Rewards paid for it, but generally I enjoyed most of the games I played there. I can get why a lot of folks are pissed about this. Microsoft just pulled the rug out from under them.

No doubt, it's just going too high - but it was always destined to be this way. It's unsustainable. I still have several months or more built up in Reward points, so as soon as I see the billing amount change I'm using those and I'm out I suppose.
 
Rehosted for the UK peasants:

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Thank you bro.

The funniest thing is the remedy for this pain is cheap and readily available:

Buy a Switch 2 or a PS5.

If you're really struggling with your attachment issues, buy a Deck Oled.

All options are adorable and palatable.

Join the Xbox Hater Club today.
 
I mean lets be honest we know Xbox is having massive issues making games, look at how Halo Infinite first demo looked, Redfall, the last Forza Motorsports, the list keeps growing

As long as Phil has the final say these games are going to suck so Tim isn't blowing the lid off something some of us have said for a very long time

Phil needs to go and not replaced by Bond and I wont go into why she was picked for her position

Now if he has some major internal news flash why doesn't he break it?

Blow this shit up
He did the same with the business update. If I had to bet, he would not say anything so as not to burn bridges with whoever gave him the info.

Regarding Sarah...she is DEI 100%
 
Thank you bro.

The funniest thing is the remedy for this pain is cheap and readily available:

Buy a Switch 2 or a PS5.

If you're really struggling with your attachment issues, buy a Deck Oled.

All options are adorable and palatable.

Join the Xbox Hater Club today.
He has a Pro and bought Switch 2 recently.
 
Thank you bro.

The funniest thing is the remedy for this pain is cheap and readily available:

Buy a Switch 2 or a PS5.

If you're really struggling with your attachment issues, buy a Deck Oled.

All options are adorable and palatable.

Join the Xbox Hater Club today.


To be fair to timdog (can't believe I'm saying that) he called it on the Xbox division having financial issues long before anyone else did and before the business update and news of the "just 4 games" and any subsequent studio shutdowns/game cancellations, so maybe he does know something.

Google still has the bulk of that tweet in question up, but it's gone from twitter obviously:

Screenshot-20251004-005126.jpg
 
I mean lets be honest we know Xbox is having massive issues making games, look at how Halo Infinite first demo looked, Redfall, the last Forza Motorsports, the list keeps growing

As long as Phil has the final say these games are going to suck so Tim isn't blowing the lid off something some of us have said for a very long time

Phil needs to go and not replaced by Bond and I wont go into why she was picked for her position

Now if he has some major internal news flash why doesn't he break it?

Blow this shit up

Heis, tinfoil hat theory time :

Maybe I'm a lil' bit fooked up but...I get a weird feeling that a major storm is cooking up behind the scenes, as in, they're trying to sunset GP AND their consoles (talking about the idiotic XSS/XSX price increase) and maybe, they're about to give up on their next-gen console too ? As in, they're gonna completely exit the race and become exclusively a game publisher ?
You said the other day that so far, nothing had changed with their plans otherwise you would have known but, at the rate all these negative news are racking up and Timdog having this very specific meltdown, don't know, something tells me that the worst news are yet to come for the hardcore Green enthusiasts...

TLDNR :
GP price increase =sunsettling it + XSX/XSS price increase = sunsetting + inevitable failure of the newly released Handhelds = Give up altogether on their next next-gen platform/exiting the race ?
 
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Regarding Sarah...she is DEI 100%
And it pissed a lot of people off internally

Heis, tinfoil hat theory time :

Maybe I'm a lil' bit fooked up but...I get a weird feeling that a major storm is cooking up behind the scenes, as in, they're trying to sunset GP AND their consoles (talking about the idiotic XSS/XSX price increase) and maybe, they're about to give up on their next-gen console too ? As in, they're gonna exit the race and become game publisher ?
You said the other day that so far, nothing had changed with their plans otherwise you would have known but, at the rate all these negative news are racking up and Timdog having this very specific meltdown, don't know, something tells me that the worst news are yet to come for the hardcore Green enthusiasts...
In all honesty I have spoken with anyone who would directly know what's going on at the round table within castle green

That will 100% change when BF6 drops and possibly even tonight if the right people want to play some BO7 beta

I will try and find out what I can and if I am able to repeat anything :)
 
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To be fair to timdog (can't believe I'm saying that) he called it on the Xbox division having financial issues long before anyone else did and before the business update and news of the "just 4 games" and any subsequent studio shutdowns/game cancellations, so maybe he does know something.

Google still has the bulk of that tweet in question up, but it's gone from twitter obviously:

Screenshot-20251004-005126.jpg
I have no mercy for the pretenders. Only full subservience to Nintendo will grant access to the afterlife.
 
Rehosted for the UK peasants:

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I wonder what our old pal S SneakersSO thinks of what's going on right now at Xbox... His last postings were from two months ago, I wouldn't mind an industry insider's perspective on all of this.
 
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I wonder what our old pal S SneakersSO thinks of what's going on right now at Xbox... His last postings were from two months ago, I wouldn't mind an industry insider's perspective on all of this.

Looking at one of his most recent posts he was bang on about EA:

EA stock plunged earlier this year and the majority of analysts have been looking at the portfolio as having major issues on delivering targets. FC didn't hit its goals last year, and they are relying on sports titles this year almost exclusively. The sports titles are still doing well long-term, but this is a company that, outside of Apex, has not had a major win in their non-sports line in ages. The Jedi titles from Respawn also have done well as far as having a sales tail, but it takes a long time to deliver one of those. Theres a reason why many analysts have been talking about EA in concerned tones in recent weeks.

No wonder they gladly took the opportunity to sell when it arose.
 
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This piece of shit got triggered over a person posting Lina Khan's input over Microsoft's price hikes on the purple forum. Even though her tweet was on-topic, and nothing about it was incorrect.

The tweet in question:

uomzZVT54fu43XI5.jpg


People like B-Dubs need to be purged out of the hobbyist space. They're nothing more than corporate lapdogs pretending to be gamers.
 
Most incompetent business to gaming. Microsoft fukked up introducing a console to gaming. They should have focused on PC gaming and they could have been dominant in that space especially since steam wasn't around when they first released the OG Xbox. They were the first cocksuckers to implement paying for online and this would have never happened if they just focused on PC gaming on the first place. They already had windows so all they had to do is make it more gaming friendly.
 
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so.... Xbox is fucked, right?
Xbox has been fucked since "it's just 4 games". The writing was on the wall and it has been a predictable downhill ever since.

The only thing most didn't predict was them actually trying to raise Xbox Series S and X consoles 4-5 years into the generation b6 a very significant amount. That, honestly, was too stupid for even the most diehard Xbox skeptic.
 
To be fair to timdog (can't believe I'm saying that) he called it on the Xbox division having financial issues long before anyone else did and before the business update and news of the "just 4 games" and any subsequent studio shutdowns/game cancellations, so maybe he does know something.

Google still has the bulk of that tweet in question up, but it's gone from twitter obviously:

Screenshot-20251004-005126.jpg
I don't know how true it is but he was on a podcast talking about how he played games with Phil, him, and Rand Al Thor. He had all the execs phone numbers except for Phil who would never give it to him. He also said Rand was pushed out when he started talking shit about Crackdown 3 and how bad it looked. So maybe he does know something.
 
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Just think of all those tards out there that kept buying their bullshit as they kept giving them money freely. Reality has come home and daddy Nadella wants as much cash as possible before they shutter Xbox and gamepass.

All that money wasted on a rental service and will have an empty library of borrowed games.

A ton of us kept trying to explain why the merger was bad for the industry and they would go right into lay offs and price increases to cover the purchase cost. That it would hinder gaming as a whole. That price increases would start, many more storefronts for more expensive microtransactions and it didn't get through those domes made of concrete, at all.

Instead the tards went and bought a few more mansions and yachts for executives, while they see nothing but a smaller bank account. The world we live in is about as embarrassing as it gets.

Glorious.
 
Phil getting the boot this time right

It's too late. Besides I'd rather it was sold to somebody who actually gave a shit about it and wasnt obsessed with where and how you play over what you actually play.

Who that could be I haven't got a clue.

All that capital and they constantly get outclassed by the other two.
 
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hZaFqAEDBx7qJuOm.jpg

This piece of shit got triggered over a person posting Lina Khan's input over Microsoft's price hikes on the purple forum. Even though her tweet was on-topic, and nothing about it was incorrect.

The tweet in question:

uomzZVT54fu43XI5.jpg


People like B-Dubs need to be purged out of the hobbyist space. They're nothing more than corporate lapdogs pretending to be gamers.
What was the "not good faith" part? Did the OP say troll stuff with it?
 


She tried to warn the xbros but they didn't listen "lollipop_disappointed:

The green socks perk of the ambassador program was too good i guess.


This should be a warning to anyone (you know who you are) who is willing to throw themselves in the firing line when a cosumer/competition regulator is doing their job and trying to stop/prevent something from happening.

If you find yourself in a situation where you aren't in agreement with them then it's highly likely that you are too stupid to see why they are attempting to do what they are trying to do.

They have the tools and expertise to see things that you can't - let them do their jobs. Trusting corporations over independent bodies who exist to look out for the consumer is insanity.
 
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This should be a warning to anyone (you know who you are) who is willing to throw themselves in the firing line when a cosumer/competition regulator is doing their job and trying to stop/prevent something from happening.

If you find yourself in a situation where you aren't in agreement with them then it's highly likely that you are too stupid to see why they are attempting to do what they are trying to do.

They have the tools and expertise to see things that you can't - let them do their jobs. Trusting corporations over independent bodies who exist to look out for the consumer is insanity.

I'll never forget the comments about wasting taxpayer money, protecting Sony, etc. that many people levied at regulators doing their job. The FTC, in particular, got the brunt of it. It is unfathomable to me that people actually believed MS' PR and vilified government bodies looking out for their consumer rights.
 
All the complaints about day 1 games but think about it: who the fuck would subscribe for old games?

GamePass needs exclusive content. That's why Netflix or Disney can raise the price. You want to watch Alien or Wednesday you need the app.
 
Most incompetent business to gaming. Microsoft fukked up introducing a console to gaming. They should have focused on PC gaming and they could have been dominant in that space especially since steam wasn't around when they first released the OG Xbox. They were the first cocksuckers to implement paying for online and this would have never happened if they just focused on PC gaming on the first place. They already had windows so all they had to do is make it more gaming friendly.
Paid online, hiding content on disc with mtx horse armor, yep fuck them.
 
Honest question: who in the ever loving fuck plays 75 day one new games in a given year??

Ive been participating in the 12 games in 12 months thread on GAF and that's been a pleasant and enjoyable challenge. Anything above that turns into an absolute chore that sucks all the fun out of gaming.

MS are presenting this as a "bigger = better" deal but it's utter bullshit. No average player is going to be able to make use of such an offer. I'd consider myself an above average consumer of games but there's no way in hell I'd start, let alone finish, that number in a year.
 
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Just think of all those tards out there that kept buying their bullshit as they kept giving them money freely. Reality has come home and daddy Nadella wants as much cash as possible before they shutter Xbox and gamepass.

All that money wasted on a rental service and will have an empty library of borrowed games.

A ton of us kept trying to explain why the merger was bad for the industry and they would go right into lay offs and price increases to cover the purchase cost. That it would hinder gaming as a whole. That price increases would start, many more storefronts for more expensive microtransactions and it didn't get through those domes made of concrete, at all.

Instead the tards went and bought a few more mansions and yachts for executives, while they see nothing but a smaller bank account. The world we live in is about as embarrassing as it gets.

Glorious.
Even the Green Rat King Manabyte couldn't justify paying the $30.
This should be a warning to anyone (you know who you are) who is willing to throw themselves in the firing line when a cosumer/competition regulator is doing their job and trying to stop/prevent something from happening.

If you find yourself in a situation where you aren't in agreement with them then it's highly likely that you are too stupid to see why they are attempting to do what they are trying to do.

They have the tools and expertise to see things that you can't - let them do their jobs. Trusting corporations over independent bodies who exist to look out for the consumer is insanity.
Huge egg on their faces. We warned them but no they wanted the acquisition to go thru to screw with Sony fans and how pro consumer Microsoft is.
 
Honest question: who in the ever loving fuck plays 75 day one new games in a given year??

Ive been participating in the 12 games in 12 months thread on GAF and that's been a pleasant and enjoyable challenge. Anything above that turns into an absolute chore that sucks all the fun out of gaming.

MS are presenting this as a "bigger = better" deal but it's utter bullshit. No average player is going to be able to make use of such an offer. I'd consider myself an above average consumer of games but there's no way in hell I'd start, let alone finish, that number in a year.
Literally why there's a lower tier instead of ultimate. If you aint playing 75 day one games, then you don't need ultimate. Regardless of one's opinion on the quality of games on gamepass, if you spend (again im canadian so every game i buy thats the basic costs me 90 bucks) - If there are more than 4 games i buy every year, that ARE on gamepass, the costs works itself out.

I wholeheartedly am against the price increase and agree its purely corporate greed, but there are people that play a shit ton of games and buy a shit ton of games. If you buy a game and on average - do not revisit it, or don't sell it ( ex: i cant sell copies of my COD at gamestop cause gamestop will give me 10 dollars and then sell it back at 90 )

Yes- you dont "own" the game, yes it's a sub. Its the new form of renting, i've tried and started so many games i normally wouldnt cause i wasnt going to drop a 60-100 dollars on the game on the chance it's good, but again for many of us, the price is just not justifiable.

Personally, if you play a shit ton of games and have the time for it and can afford it, 30 bucks to have a MS, EA, Select Ubisoft and potentially Activision library with day 1 MS and others (ex. expedition 33) games, its still a good deal than buying 4-5 games outright.

I don't have as much time as i used to for games, and day 1 releases are less and less appealing with the current trend of games releasing as ass on Day 1 until patched. Yeah gamepass at 35/month aint hitting it for me like it used to, because i have less and less time to play. I agree with you saying that there is no way the average gamer is going to play- yet there will be always people who play far more than us always. Even if you did a 24hr marathon gaming, there will be someone else that is or has done it longer.
 
If there are more than 4 games i buy every year, that ARE on gamepass, the costs works itself out.
If you stack GP you are basically preordering. In the sense you are giving them the money before you know if the product is any good. Which is fine at a low enough price point to not care, but I would argue with recent price rises you very much should care whether you will really enjoy those 5 games you need to in order to get value vs outright RRP purchases. Or if it just makes sense to wait for reviews, and purchase based on feedback and research, including a bit of self control and just waiting for sales where it makes sense.
 
If you stack GP you are basically preordering. In the sense you are giving them the money before you know if the product is any good. Which is fine at a low enough price point to not care, but I would argue with recent price rises you very much should care whether you will really enjoy those 5 games you need to in order to get value vs outright RRP purchases. Or if it just makes sense to wait for reviews, and purchase based on feedback and research, including a bit of self control and just waiting for sales where it makes sense.
Sure- but say I'm choosing Ultimate because i buy my games one Day 1 (to support the devs, play 1st, join my friends or whatever horseshit reason people kept complaining about day 1 games on a service)- i'm paying full price- thats 100 bucks per game for me. I buy 5 games (regardless of it being on gamepass) i have spend now more than the yearly sub that would have given me access to potentially the same 5 i bought or not.

- like this year, i didnt buy south of midnight, doom, indy, expedition 33, DA: The veilguard, and i probablly wont "buy NG4, outer worlds, gow remastered" - yeah sure, i could have paid for these all outright sure. But i got a lot more out of my sub this year than most, and that to me is a solid pay-off.

But like you said, yeah i could also have bought the games not at RRP, but i could/can also buy the sub not at RRP.
Again, im someone who buys a game and then never sells it, and likely wont touch the game again (typ. single player games sometimes)- game pass works for me. It may not work for you and many others, but i at least have another choice, than having to drop full RRP on games (using day 1 as an example).
 
like this year, i didnt buy south of midnight, doom, indy, expedition 33, DA: The veilguard, and i probablly wont "buy NG4, outer worlds, gow remastered" - yeah sure, i could have paid for these all outright sure. But i got a lot more out of my sub this year than most, and that to me is a solid pay-off.
I'm not saying you, or any particular person, wont get value at the new price point. Just that the price is so high now the average person really needs to think about it. That wasn't always the case, I mean 2 years ago it was a complete no brainer. Hell I think I stacked at less than $5/mth. (thats aussie dollars!). But now the pathways to discount are mostly closed, and definitely much reduced discount if you can get it. Hence the equation is totally different in late 2025.

If you were to look at the supposed lifetime average spend by PS5 users for example its reportedly $731, which includes accessories and MTX, and leaving out all the calcs to adjust annual spend adjusted for install curve (much prodding of AI to check its figures) I arrived at an annual average spend of around 75-80 USD (outright game purchases, not MTX and accessories). Could be a bit higher, but it will be nowhere near 360USD. Now I don't know whether PS is indicative of Xbox spending patterns, but I suspect not so different if GP wasn't on the table.

So my point being the 'average' gamer won't get value, probably never did to some extent at RRP, although there is value in dipping in and out of games you would never have bought. But that was fine if the cost wasn't too divergent from the average, but now an equivalent spend on games versus GP is likely way up the end of the bell curve now.
 
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