Microsoft says it ‘messed up’ on Xbox Live pricing, won’t raises rates

Microsoft has backtracked on an announcement that it would raise the price of Xbox Live Gold memberships after an outcry from gamers. Many pointed out that it was tactless to raise prices on gaming when many people are staying at home due to the pandemic and gaming provides a much-needed form of safe entertainment. In a blog post first posted on Friday, January 22, Microsoft said it would increase the price of Gold memberships by $1 for one-month memberships and $5 for three-month memberships in the U.S., with equivalent prices hikes in other regions too. That would have raised prices to $11 for one month and $30 for three months. Prices for six-month and 12-month memberships would have remained unchanged. The company said this plan reflected changes in regional marketplaces and that, “In many markets, the price of Xbox Live Gold has not changed for years and in some markets, it hasn’t changed for over 10 years.” However, many gamers were unhappy about this change and felt that it was a deliberate attempt to push people toward the more expensive six- and 12-month membership plans. It came across to some as a rather tone-deaf attempt to capitalize on the popularity of multiplayer gaming during the pandemic. Microsoft quickly reversed its announcement. In an update to the blog post on Friday, January 22, the company wrote, “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.” In addition, Microsoft says it is changing the way that free-to-play games work on Xbox Live. Previously, players needed an Xbox Live Gold membership to play free-to-play games on multiplayer. Now, players will be able to play free-to-play multiplayer games without a Gold membership. Pricing for Xbox Live Gold will remain the same: One-month memberships will cost $10, three-month memberships will cost $25, six-month memberships will cost $40, and one-year memberships will cost $60. Ninja Theory, the developer behind the Hellblade series, denies that it will replace human voice actors with AI. In a response to a Twitter user asking if the studio would do such a thing, Ninja Theory stated: “No. For clarity, we use this AI tech for placeholder content only to help us understand things like timing and placement in early phases of development. We then collaborate with real actors whose performances are at the heart of bringing our stories to life.” Microsoft issued a response to the news this morning of Sony increasing the price of the PlayStation 5 console in markets outside of the U.S. In a statement to Windows Central, a Microsoft spokesperson says, “We are constantly evaluating our business to offer our fans great gaming options. Our Xbox Series S suggested retail price remains at $299 (250 British pounds, 300 euros) the Xbox Series X is $499 (450 pounds, 500 euros).” Sony’s revamped PS Plus service was under the microscope before it was even announced. As soon as journalists caught wind of the company’s rumored “Spartacus” service, fans began speculating about how it would stack up against Xbox Game Pass. When Sony formally revealed its plans and noted that PS Plus wouldn’t feature new launch day releases, many immediately wrote the service off as an unworthy competitor. Today, Sony made a key pit stop on the road to the service’s June 13 launch. The company released a long list of “some” of the games that will launch with PS Plus. The list includes recent PS5 hits like Returnal and classic titles dating back to the PS1. It isn’t an exhaustive list of all the PlayStation’s greatest hits, but it’ll bring series like Ape Escape, Jax and Daxter, and Ratchet & Clank games to modern consoles.