Xbox Game Pass still a great value despite price increase, according to God of War creator

Popular opinion may be against Microsoft after it confirmed another Xbox Game Pass price increase. However, the subscription service does have a few high-profile supporters coming to its defense. David Jaffe, best known for creating God of War, has explained why he intends to remain subscribed to Game Pass Ultimate.

On YouTube, Jaffe argues that even at $29.99, the highest tier makes economic sense for his needs. In the video, he calculates the cost of the Xbox Game Pass games in his library and potential future purchases. With annual fees now $360, Jaffe estimates he would spend nearly twice as much without a membership.

Also a key figure in the development of Twisted Metal, the designer doesn’t see many advantages to owning Xbox games. Fans of game preservation note that buyers don’t actually own the digital titles on Game Pass.  Microsoft can choose to remove selections often without more than a few weeks' notice. Yet, Jaffe prefers not to fill his shelves with retail cases because he rarely wants to replay a game.

Xbox defenders are becoming a rare breed

It’s not shocking that most replies under Jaffe’s video are critical. Gamers single him out as not the average Game Pass Ultimate subscriber. With presumably a larger income, the Xbox price increase on the service is easier to absorb. Also, as a streamer, he tends to try but not complete more Xbox games than a typical user. Many players don’t have the time to finish dozens of titles each year to justify the higher cost.

The repeated price hikes on consoles and Game Pass have made many Microsoft supporters seek alternatives. That said, Sony also now charges more for the PS5 and recently raised PlayStation Plus rates. Although the most expensive PS Plus plan costs $160 for a year, critics point out that it includes far fewer AAA games than its rival.