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Microsoft scraps Xbox Live price hike
Microsoft has decided not to increase the price of Xbox Live Gold following a monumental backlash from the Xbox community.
Last week, Microsoft announced plans to increase one-month subscription price by $1, and three-month subscriptions by $5. That would raise the price of 6-month subscriptions to $59.99, which used to be the price for a whole year. Some suggested it was a ploy to convince users to get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions instead.
No price change: “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,” stated Microsoft in a bid to justify the U-turn.
Free free-to-play: The price hike was criticized for its timing, following hot on the heels of the Xbox Series X/S launch – which may have strained already pandemic-ridden wallets. Microsoft also announced that free-to-play games will no longer require Xbox Live Gold.