Xbox Game Pass Members Can Avoid Price Increase in Some Countries if They Stay Subbed - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 07 October 2025 / 5,011 Views
The 50 percent price hike for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which was announced last week, is being held off for now in some countries for existing subscribers as long as they remain subscribed and keep auto-renew enabled.
"Our recent Game Pass update remains unchanged," said head of Xbox communications Kari Perez in a statement to The Verge. "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."
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers in Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Poland, and India have confirmed they will be able to keep paying the previous price as long as they don't cancel their subscription. It is possible this is available in other countries, however, subscribers in at least the US will have to pay the higher price starting November 4, 2025.
This is likely due to local regulations and in an email stated subscribers in these markets will be notified "at least 60 days in advance" of any price changes.
Read the email sent to subscribers who are able to keep paying the lower price below:
Recently, you may have heard about changes to the price of Xbox Game Pass subscriptions. 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. Should you choose to cancel your plan and repurchase, you will be charged at the new current rate. If for any reason there may be changes to your existing account, we will notify you at least 60 days in advance and you will have the option to cancel or change your subscription plan at any time.
Thank you again for being an Xbox Game Pass subscriber. We'll continue to strive to deliver you high-quality games, amazing value and an incredible gaming experience.
Read the email sent to subscribers in the US:
Thank you for being a subscriber of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. We are planning to update our prices so that we may continue to bring you more value and great games for the very best gaming experience. Starting November 4, 2025, the 1-month subscription price will be $29.99 for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate plus applicable taxes every recurrence period unless you cancel up to two days prior to your next scheduled payment date. You can request a prorated refund if you cancel within 14 days of the new price being charged. You can also manage your subscription, how you pay, or cancel your subscription by visiting your Microsoft account here.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can follow the author on Bluesky.
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This statement is insulting on so many levels. Translation: in markets without consumer protections, we’ll screw you quickly and swiftly; in markets with slightly more protections, you get a little time before we screw you too.
I still can’t believe gamers across forums cheered for the acquisition and cyber-bullied the people who tried to protect them, people like Lina Khan and Sarah Cardell were right. Well done: the CMA’s been flattened, the FTC is being gutted, and you all get to be screwed further. Cheer consolidation, pay the consolidation tax.
I can't agree with you more.
And it's driving me crazy how blatantly stupid many people are.
Very dramatic talk for an optional subscription service.
This is only true for potential customers. If you previously purchased the console specifically to use that service only to have the price of their existing subscription going up by already 50%, giving it up means Microsoft just wasted your investment.
It’s still an optional subscription and would also be offset by the raised prices of these consoles. GamePass and PS+ have both increased in price but your consoles are worth more now than when you bought them 👍
Also who buys an Xbox solely for GamePass, expecting it to be the one sub service that will never rise in price?
What I find interesting is that the "consumer protections" in this case seem to actually harm the consumers, by enticing them to stay subscribed to the service.
Of course, it's a totally optional subscription in a totally frivolous hobby industry. So, the idea that consumers are harmed in any reasonable sense doesn't hold water regardless of any price changes or regulations (or lack thereof).
Sounds like someone in Legal poked their head up and reminded the executives that some countries have laws.
Bet they won't even take the necessary steps to avoid making this mistake again.
Since the USA doesn’t have any consumer protection laws(and the ones they did have were removed by trump “Cutting the red tape” i.e. selling you, the consumer, crap for the advantage of corporations) they probably just forgot they exist at all.
Damage Control, likely related to consumer rights law.
Friendly reminder to cancel your GP subscription
"... said head of Xbox communications ...“
Huh.
Seems like they've just found the guy who occupies the position of communication.
When Microsoft loves Xbox gamers so much, they depend on consumeer protection laws in random countries like Poland and South Korea to protect them from Microsoft´s benevolence. Literally, when Microsoft realized the game was up, they just decided to milk their existing loyal, loving fans down to the bone. Most obvious on console which got shafted with even worse prices than on PC - they are captive customers suffering from sunk cost fallacy, so easy pickings when decides that doubling the profit from it´s existing customer base is legit when it gave up on doubling it´s customer base.
Ill stay subbed but the moment the price increases, I am down tiering.
Why? Is this not part of Microsoft's Trojan Horse Strategy?
Whats pricing got to do with their Trojan Horse strategy?
they put the price up straight away because they knew everything would been stacking up the subscriptions
