What started out as a rumor soon turned into an even more bitter reality. And it is that during this week Microsoft announced a notable price increase for its Xbox Live rates. However, this action did not take long to cause a huge stir among users who, with enormous mobilization and criticism from the network, seem to have managed to stop the plans of the Redmont giant.
And is that the plans initially announced by Microsoft would have doubled the annual price of an Xbox Live Gold subscription, yes, adding a series of benefits in exchange with an extended subscription that would include access to a larger library of Xbox Game Pass titles, similar to the Netflix series model. Still, fans have managed to not only get Microsoft to keep its rates, but to even offer new features at this same starting price.
Access to online multiplayer games such as Fortnite or Apex Legends has always remained foreign to PlayStation online services, and now it seems that finally Xbox Live will handle things the same way, offering from today a free access to facilitate a much more attractive platform for players with limited budgets.
To bring Xbox Live more in line with how we see the player at the center of their experience we will be removing Gold requirements for free-to-play games.
We’re starting work on that immediately and will have updates in the coming months. Details: https://t.co/tWomNAwmp9
– Xbox (@Xbox) January 23, 2021
«Today we made a mistake and you did well to let us know […] If you are already an Xbox Live Gold member, it remains at your current price for renewal. 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 12 months.»Microsoft itself apologized in a statement to its subscribers.
Although this price increase had not become effective in Europe, it certainly this reversal sets a great precedent, ensuring that, at least for the moment, we would not expect any change to the rates for this essential service to enjoy online multiplayer mode on Microsoft consoles.
