One Microsoft executive has shared insights regarding the substantial increase in prices for Xbox Game Pass amid rising discontent among users. Although the subscription has gained considerable popularity and revenue for Microsoft, many players are finding the costs increasingly prohibitive, leading to a wave of cancellations.

This week, Microsoft disclosed that the Ultimate tier of Xbox Game Pass would rise from $19.99 to $29.99 monthly. In addition, the former Standard tier will be supplanted by a new Premium tier, priced at $14.99, which promises additional games and multiplayer access. To ease the burden of this surprise increase, almost 50 new games are being introduced, featuring titles like Assassin’s Creed, Hogwarts Legacy, and Tom Clancy’s The Division. Nonetheless, many customers are frustrated by the lack of prior notification regarding these changes.

Microsoft Gaming Director Acknowledges the Difficulty of Price Increases

During a discussion with The Verge, Dustin Blackwell expressed understanding towards user frustrations, claiming that “price increases are never fun for anybody.” However, he highlighted that the team aims to enhance the value of these plans as well. The ramifications of this abrupt decision remain uncertain, yet player feedback is encouraged. Notably, the Xbox Game Pass website faced outages subsequent to the announcement due to the overwhelming number of users trying to cancel their subscriptions.

Furthermore, players are not alone in voicing their opinions. Following the announcement, GameStop used Twitter to inform gamers about the benefits of buying discounted second-hand games as an alternative to continuous payments for a costly service.