Microsoft has confirmed that it will increase the price of new internally developed games on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles from next year.

Xbox will increase the price of its own-brand Xbox Series games from 2023. Many next-gen games cost $70 these days, up $10 from the previous standard of $60. This is also true for some cross-generation titles, where PS4 and Xbox One versions cost $60. Users will have to pay an upgrade fee if they want to play the new edition.

A Microsoft spokesperson told IGN that new first-party games for Xbox Series X/S will cost $69.99 from 2023.

This includes big XGS titles like Forza Motorsport, Redfall and Starfield. Microsoft confirmed that the new price reflects the “content, scope and technical complexity” of these games. However, they quickly confirmed that all first-party games would continue to be available on Xbox Game Pass at no extra cost.

Game Pass costs $120 for one year, while Game Pass Ultimate costs $180. So this move technically increases the value offered by an Xbox Game Pass subscription. However, Microsoft may also decide to increase the Xbox Game Pass price to match the game price better.

Earlier this year, Xbox chief Phil Spencer revealed that Microsoft might increase the price of various Xbox products at some point in the future.

He did not specify a specific product or service. This left the door open for price increases in different categories. Some fans may recall that Microsoft also tried to increase the price of Live Gold before reversing the decision.

Sony has recently increased the price of the PS5 in various countries, citing general inflation and the unfavourable exchange rate as the reason for the change. The cost of the PS5 has increased in Europe, the UK, Canada, Japan, China, Australia and Mexico, among other countries. In the US, however, the price remained stable. Both Nintendo and Microsoft have expressed their intention not to change prices. After this, it will be interesting to see if any console manufacturers decide to follow Sony in the future.

Source: IGN