Microsoft is increasing prices for the Xbox Series X in most countries in August except for the US, Japan, Chile, Brazil, and Colombia. Xbox is also increasing monthly pricing for Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions for the first time next month, which will see the console’s base Game Pass subscription increase to $10.99 per month from $9.99.
Xbox Chief Communications Officer Kari Perez said in a statement the edge.
Xbox Series X console prices will largely match the price hike Sony announced for the PS5 last year, with the Xbox Series X going to £479.99 in the UK, €549.99 in most European markets, and $649.99 CAD in Canada, and AU$799.99 in Australia starting August 1. Xbox Series S prices will not be adjusted in any markets, and will remain at $299.99.
While Xbox Series X price adjustments were expected following Sony’s move last year, Xbox chief Phil Spencer also hinted in October that subscription pricing wouldn’t last forever.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass for Console prices will increase starting July 6th. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will go from $14.99 per month to $16.99 (€14.99 / £12.99). The base Xbox Game Pass for Console price will also go from $9.99 per month to $10.99 (€10.99 / £8.99). However, Microsoft does not change PC Game Pass pricing.
If you’re a monthly Game Pass subscriber, these new recurring prices won’t take effect until August 13th or September 13th in Germany. New Xbox Game Pass members will see the new prices immediately on July 6th. If you subscribed to Xbox Game Pass with an annual code, the new price won’t apply until you go to renew your subscription.
Most markets will be affected by Xbox Game Pass price increases, with the exception of some Game Pass console prices that will remain the same in Norway, Chile, Denmark, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia.
Microsoft hasn’t changed its Xbox Game Pass pricing since launching the subscription in 2017, and the company is keen to stress that this isn’t related to its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. “These Game Pass price adjustments are not related to the Activision Blizzard deal and are designed to match local market conditions,” Perez says.
Microsoft’s Xbox subscription changes follow a general trend in price increases over the past two years for entertainment subscriptions. Netflix raised prices again last year after incremental price increases in recent years, and Disney Plus and Hulu saw price hikes last year as well. Apple Music and Spotify have both increased in price in most markets in recent years.
Nintendo has yet to overhaul its Switch Online subscription service since its launch in 2018, and Sony just updated its PlayStation Plus subscriptions last year with new PlayStation Plus Essential, Plus Extra, and Plus Premium subscriptions for PlayStation owners.
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