Microsoft’s latest messaging to Xbox Game Pass members hints that the company might not be hitting everyone with its controversial price hike (at least not yet).
Old Subscribers Might Be Safe… For Now
Across Europe, Redditors are reporting that Microsoft’s latest emails are quietly reassuring some subscribers: keep your auto-renewal active, and your monthly rate might not jump to $29.99 (or £22.99 in the UK) just yet. “For the market in which you reside,” the message reads, hinting at regional differences in pricing and rollout timing.
Austrian and German subscribers are seeing their old rates stick. Meanwhile, AU & UK users haven’t heard anything from Microsoft yet. The patchwork approach has the community scratching its heads.
The Hike That Sparked Outrage
Back in July, Microsoft revealed it was overhauling Game Pass with a renamed tiered system. Ultimate went from $19.99 to $29.99. That’s a 50% jump for a subscription that already felt overpriced if you weren’t using every perk. Microsoft’s “value add” includes 400 games, day-one releases, Fortnite Crew, Ubisoft+ Classics, and 1440p cloud streaming. Since then, thousands of people have been commenting all over the internet “just cancelled my subscription” or “just switched off Ultimate”.
Microsoft’s Quiet Pivot?
The new emails have fueled speculation that Microsoft may be softening the rollout; keeping loyal subscribers on old pricing while hitting newcomers with the new, heftier fees. It’s unclear whether this auto-renewer perk is permanent or just a temporary “grace period.”
For now, existing members seem to have snagged a rare reprieve. But the lack of clarity has left the Game Pass community wondering if Microsoft is rethinking its aggressive pricing (or just kicking the can down the road before the next round of increases).
Watch Your Billing
Gamers should keep an eye on their accounts. The messaging is a small victory, but Microsoft has shown in the past that subscription services can shift fast. Old rates might stick for now, but they’re never guaranteed.