Microsoft continues to send not-so-subtle signals that it would really like you to drop Xbox Live Gold in favor of the Game Pass. The company has raised prices for new Xbox Live Gold subscriptions at all levels, with the changes becoming more noticeable the longer you are ready to commit. One- and three-month plans are not much more expensive, costing $ 11 and $ 30, respectively (up to $ 1 and $ 5), but six months now cost $ 60 – well above the $ 40 that you used to pay. And when there is no longer a 12 month subscription, you will receive $ 120 per year if you insist on Gold.
Existing six- and 12-month members will renew at the current price, Microsoft said. Those who convert their Gold subscriptions to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will have the remaining time converted at no extra charge for up to three years. If you still have several months of gold, you will not face another significant expense for a while.
The company justified the increase by noting that the price of gold “hasn’t changed for years” in many places and, in some cases, hasn’t changed for more than a decade – the Xbox 360 was still in stores at that time. In theory, Microsoft is just recognizing that costs have changed. PlayStation Plus still has a $ 60 option, although Sony does not include its Now game streaming.
However, it is not very difficult to see Microsoft’s big plans. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is a relatively easy upsell. You’ll pay an additional $ 15 a month, but you’ll have all the features of Gold, as well as access to a growing library of titles and games in the cloud. The tech giant not only earns more money each month, but is more likely to retain members who might otherwise lose their Gold membership.