Microsoft rolls back Xbox Live Gold price hike

Microsoft has reversed the Xbox Live Gold price hike, which amounted to doubling. In addition, Xbox Live Gold will no longer be required for free-to-play games from sometime in the coming months.

Microsoft says it “made a mistake” with the price increase and that players “rightly informed the company”. Microsoft will roll the prices back to the level they were at, so at least $60 a year. The price change had not yet worked through to the euro countries. With the change to free-to-play games, Microsoft is aligning the service with PSN and Nintendo Switch Online, with free games also not requiring a paid membership.

Microsoft stated in the increase that the price of service had not been adjusted for years, in some countries not even for ten years. However, Sony’s counterpart PlayStation Plus is priced the same on an annual basis. Microsoft may have wanted to convince people to take Xbox Games Pass Ultimate with the price increase; the price is $15 a month and includes Xbox Live Gold.