Microsoft recently announced a major Xbox Game Pass price hike, but it’s not going into effect right away in the US or abroad. Back when the 50% price hike for Game Pass Ultimate was announced on October 1, people got emails from Microsoft saying when the change would happen for them, and for some people in the US, the price hike wasn’t set to go into effect until November.
Now, it’s been confirmed that Microsoft will allow people to keep their existing membership rates in certain countries outside the US, so long as they do not cancel. If they do, the price will go up. The Verge confirmed with Microsoft that the price increase only affects users in Austria, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Korea, Poland, and India if they cancel and then sign up again.
“At this time, these increases will only affect new purchases and will not affect your current subscription for the market in which you reside, as long as you are on an auto-recurring plan,” Microsoft said in an email to subscribers in those regions. “Should you choose to cancel your plan and repurchase, you will be charged at the new current rate.”
It’s great to see that Microsoft is holding off on the Game Pass price increase for now. This decision will likely be appreciated by many gamers who rely on the service. Looking forward to seeing how this develops!
It really is a relief! This pause gives gamers a chance to enjoy their subscriptions without the added pressure of rising costs. Plus, it might encourage more players to try out Game Pass while it remains affordable.