Key Takeaways
1. Price Increases: Microsoft has raised console prices and launched $80 games, indicating a likely rise in Xbox Game Pass fees.
2. Subscription Insights: The code “SubscriptionPriceIncrease” suggests potential price changes for Game Pass, which hasn’t been offered as a standalone subscription.
3. Game Pass and AAA Titles: The increase in Game Pass fees is linked to high-profile AAA games, with new titles being released at steep prices.
4. Challenges in Growth: There is a slowdown in new Game Pass subscribers, which may necessitate higher subscription costs to support expensive game releases.
5. Console Sales Impact: Declining Xbox console sales are hindering Game Pass growth, prompting Microsoft to target new audiences through Windows gaming handhelds.
With Microsoft increasing console prices and launching $80 games, a rise in Xbox Game Pass fees seems unavoidable. Better xCloud is a plugin that enhances browser-based game streaming and recently shared a finding on the Xbox Cloud Gaming site. The code mentioning “SubscriptionPriceIncrease” could alert players about potential price changes.
Subscription Insights
Currently, Xbox Cloud streaming isn’t offered as an independent subscription, suggesting that this message probably relates to Game Pass costs. The last adjustment in pricing occurred in July 2024, where the Ultimate Game Pass tier went up from $16.99 to $19.99. Other tiers, such as PC, Standard, and Core, lack cloud streaming features. Historically, Microsoft tends to deliver unsatisfactory news to gamers during the summer months.
Game Pass and AAA Titles
Many experts have connected the 2024 increase in Xbox Game Pass fees to high-profile AAA games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Since then, Microsoft has introduced several other games that are priced steeply on their own. Subscribers have access to new Xbox releases like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Doom: The Dark Ages. Notably, The Outer Worlds 2 is set to launch in October at $80. When Xbox console prices rose in May, Microsoft cautioned about more expensive first-party titles.
Challenges Ahead
One major issue for Microsoft is the slowing growth in new Game Pass subscribers. A LinkedIn post by an employee recently suggested that current numbers are similar to those seen in 2024. If new memberships don’t increase, the monthly subscription costs might need to rise to keep up with the new high-budget Xbox games.
Furthermore, dwindling Xbox console sales aren’t aiding Game Pass expansion. Microsoft is banking on Windows gaming handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally to attract a fresh audience to the service.
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