It appears that Microsoft has raised the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate by over 100% in many regions outside the US, including Brazil, Turkey, and Colombia. In the US, the new Xbox Game Pass pricing reflects a 50% increase for the Ultimate tier, prompting many subscribers to cancel their subscriptions. However, the financial impact of Microsoft's decision seems far harsher in other regions.
On October 1, Xbox Game Pass prices increased again, making the Ultimate tier a $30-per-month subscription. Microsoft framed the change as an upgrade, emphasizing that the new price includes more benefits and a larger game library. For example, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now includes Ubisoft+ Classics and Fortnite Crew subscriptions, and it will offer at least 75 day-one titles per year. However, despite these benefits being almost the same across all regions, some gamers in certain countries will face much higher prices for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
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Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Price Doubled in Some Regions
According to the Brazilian outlet Tecnoblog, the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in Brazil has nearly doubled, rising 99.9% to 120 Brazilian Real (~$22 USD) from the previous 60 BRL (~$11 USD). Similar reports have come from gamers in Colombia, Turkey, and South Africa, with some claiming the subscription price has jumped by nearly 165%. The worst part is that some of the new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier features meant to justify the increase aren't even available in these regions. For example, a fan pointed out that the upgraded 1440p streaming via Cloud Gaming isn't even available in Brazil. In other words, some players will have to pay more while getting less.
To illustrate how these disproportionate price hikes affect gamers in regions like Brazil, it is worth noting that the country's minimum wage is about 1,500 BRL per month (via CXC Global). This means an average gamer might have to spend nearly 8% of their monthly income on Game Pass Ultimate. Unsurprisingly, there has been significant backlash against Microsoft's new pricing, and many content creators in these regions are urging users to cancel their Xbox Game Pass subscriptions.
Some believe that October's price hike could be the final straw, potentially putting Xbox at a disadvantage in the console wars. But it remains to be seen whether the current backlash will push Microsoft to adopt an adjusted Xbox Game Pass strategy in markets outside the US. It will also be interesting to see how the controversial new Xbox Game Pass tiers affect the subscriber base and whether the company will suffer major financial losses from the surge in cancellations.
