Microsoft has announced it is delaying the planned Xbox Game Pass price increase for some existing subscribers in select countries. The decision comes after the company announced a 50 percent price hike for Game Pass Ultimate last week. The price change will still apply to new purchases but will not immediately affect current subscribers with auto-renewing plans in markets such as Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Poland, and India.
Details of the delayed Xbox Game Pass price hike
Microsoft confirmed the delay in an email sent to some Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.
“At this time, these increases will only affect new purchases and will not affect your current subscription for the market in which you reside, as long as you are on an auto-recurring plan.”
The company also clarified that if a user in one of these markets cancels their plan and later repurchases it, they will be charged at the new, higher rate.
The delay does not impact subscribers in the United States or the United Kingdom, where the Xbox Game Pass price increase will proceed as originally announced. The change in the other countries is likely related to local regulations regarding subscription price changes.
“Our recent Game Pass update remains unchanged,” said Kari Perez, head of Xbox communications, in a statement. “Current subscribers in certain countries will continue renewing at their existing price for now, in line with local requirements. We’ll provide advance notice before price adjustments take effect in these countries.”
Notice period for future increases
Microsoft’s email specifies that existing subscribers in the affected markets will be notified “at least 60 days in advance” of any price changes. This means the Xbox Game Pass price increase will not go into effect for these users for at least two more months. For example, subscribers in Ireland will continue to be charged the existing €17.99 monthly rate instead of the new €26.99 price for the time being.
This is a change from the initial announcement, which stated that the updated pricing would go into effect on October 1st for new subscribers and at the next billing cycle for current subscribers, which was expected to be around November 4th.
