On Friday, Microsoft announced a price increase that doubles the cost of the annual Xbox Live subscription service, causing a wave of controversy among Xbox gamers nationwide.
Microsoft has now taken back its announcement and issued a full statement in an updated blog post expressing how “confused” they were and thanking fans for keeping them in line.
We got confused today and it was right that you let us know. Connecting and playing with friends is an important part of the game, and we did not live up to the expectations of players who count on it every day. As a result, we decided not to change the price of Xbox Live Gold.
We’re turning this moment into an opportunity to bring Xbox Live more in line with how we see the player at the center of their experience. For free play games, you no longer need an Xbox Live Gold membership to play those games on Xbox. We are working hard to deliver this change as soon as possible in the coming months.
If you’re already a member of Xbox Live Gold, stay tuned for the current renewal price. New and existing members can continue to enjoy Xbox Live Gold for the same prices they pay today. In the US, $ 9.99 for 1 month, $ 24.99 for 3 months, $ 39.99 for 6 months and $ 59.99 for retail 12 months.
Thank you.
For now, prices will remain the same, as Microsoft has taken a page from their competitors’ Sony services and Nintendo’s online services, dropping the requirement for a free games subscription. Popular free games like Fortnite can be played on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation without a subscription, but not on Xbox without one.
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