Microsoft Confirms Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Price Increase Delay in Some Countries — but Not the U.S. or UK

Microsoft has delayed its arguable Xbox Game Pass Ultimate terms summation successful immoderate countries — but not the U.S. oregon UK.

Last week, Microsoft sparked a backlash with its determination to rise the terms of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $19.99 a period to $29.99 a period (a 50% summation that amounts to an other $120 a year).

To warrant the terms hike, Microsoft upped the fig of time 1 releases per twelvemonth to 75, and added Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics for the archetypal clip ever. There were besides upgrades to Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming quality.

Microsoft said the caller $30 a period Ultimate terms reflected “the expanded catalog, caller spouse benefits, and upgraded unreality gaming experience.”

But that didn’t halt fans from reassessing whether Game Pass remained close for them. IGN’s canvass connected the issue, which present has implicit 41,000 voters, shows 53.9% of our assemblage volition not subscribe to Game Pass astatine all. 19.9% said they were going for Ultimate contempt the terms rise.

The updated pricing went into effect connected October 1 for caller subscribers, and was acceptable to footwear successful connected November 4 for each existent subscribers. But now, Microsoft has confirmed it has delayed the Ultimate terms hike successful immoderate countries, specified arsenic Ireland and South Korea. In an email to subscribers successful these countries, Microsoft said the increases would lone impact caller subscribers, not existing subscribers, arsenic agelong arsenic they auto-renew. If Ultimate subscribers cancel past re-subscribe, they’ll beryllium charged astatine the caller rate.

Microsoft subsequently confirmed the decision. In a connection to The Verge, the institution said the hold was owed to “local requirements,” which apt means the institution indispensable springiness subscribers a acceptable play of clip earlier making terms changes. Unfortunately for subscribers successful the U.S. and UK, this does not use to them.

“Our caller Game Pass update remains unchanged,” Microsoft said successful the statement. “Current subscribers successful definite countries volition proceed renewing astatine their existing terms for now, successful enactment with section requirements. We’ll supply beforehand announcement earlier terms adjustments instrumentality effect successful these countries.”

The “for now” portion of Microsoft’s connection suggests the terms hike volition yet deed each countries successful which Ultimate is available. It’s a lawsuit of when, not if.

This week, Microsoft confirmed it had besides scrapped the Xbox Game Pass discount connected DLC purchases, giving subscribers much points for usage successful its Rewards strategy instead. That alteration hasn't gone down well, either.

The outgo of being an Xbox instrumentality has been a blistery taxable successful caller months. After announcing a leap to $80 for its games owed retired this holiday, Microsoft back-tracked to instrumentality with $70 for the likes of The Outer Worlds 2. And conscionable past period Microsoft raised the terms of Xbox consoles successful the U.S. "due to changes successful the macroeconomic environment."

Microsoft likewise raised eyebrows erstwhile it confirmed a $999.99 terms tag for the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally X handheld, and $599.99 for the ROG Xbox Ally.

Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].