GameStop has taken to social media to throw shade at Xbox Game Pass and the recent price hike announced by Microsoft. Xbox Game Pass subscribers were shocked when Microsoft kicked off October with the announcement that it would be jacking up the price of the service significantly. Moving forward, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will cost a whopping $29.99 per month, up from $19.99 per month, and many fans are not happy about this news.
So many people rushed to cancel their Xbox Game Pass subscriptions that it crashed the site, and there have been a bunch of social media posts criticizing the move. While there is an attempt to justify the price increase by adding Ubisoft+ titles and Fortnite Crew benefits, many subscribers are not convinced and have let their disapproval be heard.
Sony Isn't Ruling Out Another PS Plus Price Increase
The last worldwide price increase for PlayStation Plus was only back in 2023, but Sony now says that further increases to the service are possible.
GameStop Mocks the Game Pass Price Increase
Even GameStop has chimed in, making posts on social media criticizing the price increase. GameStop has poked fun at the Xbox Game Pass increase with memes, and it has also announced that its $19.99 Xbox Game Pass Ultimate cards will not be increasing in price. While an eventual price increase for Game Pass Ultimate cards at GameStop seems inevitable, for now, those that want them can go and purchase them at GameStop either online or in-store.
It will be interesting to see what kind of impact the Xbox Game Pass price increase has on the subscription service's popularity. It's possible that it will drive away subscribers who are sick of the price increases, but it's also possible that it will retain most of its subscribers thanks to the regular release of big day one games on the platform. In the near future, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be getting access to heavy hitters like Ninja Gaiden 4, The Outer Worlds 2, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, among others, so it seems that the price increase was strategically-timed.
One has to wonder if the Game Pass price increase will have any impact on its chief competitor, PS Plus. PlayStation Plus price increases are not a new concept, and if the Game Pass price increase is successful, one has to imagine that Sony will consider something similar. Then again, Sony could contrast the Game Pass price increase with the price of PS Plus to potentially attract new customers. Time will tell, but in the meantime, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers that don't want to pay $29.99 per month just yet may want to make a visit to GameStop soon.