Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Series X prices hiked globally

Microsoft's recent Xbox showcase was chock-full of exciting games, many of which will be playable on Xbox Game Pass at launch. The star of the show, however, is Starfield, Bethesda's newest RPG franchise in over two decades. According to a new report from The Verge, Microsoft wants to cash in on the hype in more ways than one. The Xbox Series X and Xbox Game Pass will soon be costlier worldwide.

Thankfully, gamers based in the US, Japan, Chile, Brazil, and Colombia will be immune from the Xbox Series X price increase. The console will now cost €549.99 (US$604) in most European nations— a €50 hike. In other regions, the hike will correspond to that amount. More information about revised prices should be available on your local Xbox website soon.

On the other hand, the Xbox Game Pass price increase is global. In the US, a Game Pass Ultimate subscription will now cost US$16.99 (from US$14.99). PC Game Pass, on the other hand, will be the same. Lastly, the console-only variant will now retail at US$10.99 instead of US$9.99. The new prices go into effect on August 13.

Microsoft blames "market conditions" for the Xbox Game Pass price increases. It could also be the result of multiple AAA titles hitting the platform in the coming months and the eventual Ubisoft Plus integration. On the other hand, the Xbox Series X price seems almost inevitable, given Sony did the same thing a few months ago. Furthermore, it also needs to widen the gap between the base Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X to make the new 1 TB Xbox Series S look more attractive.

Buy the Xbox Series X on Amazon