Microsoft recently announced a major Xbox Game Pass price hike, but it’s not going into effect right away in the US or abroad. Back when the 50% price hike for Game Pass Ultimate was announced on October 1, people got emails from Microsoft saying when the change would happen for them, and for some people in the US, the price hike wasn’t set to go into effect until November.
Now, it’s been confirmed that Microsoft will allow people to keep their existing membership rates in certain countries outside the US, so long as they do not cancel. If they do, the price will go up. The Verge confirmed with Microsoft that the price increase only affects users in Austria, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Korea, Poland, and India if they cancel and then sign up again.
“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,” Microsoft said in an email to subscribers in those regions. “Should you choose to cancel your plan and repurchase, you will be charged at the new current rate.”
A spokesperson for Microsoft told The Verge members in the regions mentioned above can continue renewing at their existing price, but only “for now.” This is due to “local requirements,” Microsoft said. The email sent to members said they will be notified “at least 60 days in advance” of a price change. Given that, people in those regions shouldn’t expect to pay the higher rates for at least a couple months.
In the US, existing subscriber should expect to begin paying the higher rates on November 4, Microsoft told The Verge. New subscribers in the US, however, must pay $30/month for Ultimate right now.
Also worth noting is that numerous retailers in the US continue to sell Game Pass Ultimate for $20, so people who want to keep their membership and pay less should grab those while they still can.
Microsoft is jacking up Game Pass Ultimate prices just ahead of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s release on November 14. As a result, playing Call of Duty on Game Pass just got a lot more expensive.
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