Last week, Microsoft unveiled an updated Xbox Game Pass service with new plans and benefits. At the same time, the company decided to increase the price of its flagship Xbox Game Pass Ultimate plan by 50% - from $20 to $30 per month. So many subscribers were unhappy with such a significant price increase, and many began canceling their Xbox Game Pass subscriptions altogether.
Now, Microsoft has announced that the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price increase has been postponed for existing auto-renewing subscription holders, but only in certain countries, including Austria, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Korea, Poland, and India. This is likely due to local regulations.
Subscribers in these regions have begun receiving emails from Microsoft stating the following: "Currently, these increases only apply to new purchases and will not affect your current subscription in the country where you live, provided you have automatic renewal enabled." The company warns that if you decide to cancel your subscription and then renew it, you will be charged the new prices.
Xbox PR Director Kari Perez confirmed the authenticity of the emails in a statement to The Verge and clarified that these notifications do not affect subscribers in the US and UK. "Current subscribers in some countries will continue to renew at the old price, subject to local requirements. We will notify users in advance before the price changes take effect in those countries."
Microsoft promises to notify users in these countries of the price increase "at least 60 days in advance," meaning they will remain on the old rates for at least two more months.
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