Greetings, gaming enthusiasts! It’s time to power up your consoles and let’s dig into some crucial updates from the Xbox universe. If you’re based in South Africa, brace yourself – Microsoft is set to raise the price of its Game Pass subscription service for Xbox.
Xbox’s head of communications, Kari Perez, revealed the news to The Verge, explaining that these price increases are a move to better align with local market conditions. But don’t hit the panic button just yet, let’s breakdown what this means for you and your gaming wallet.
From 6 July 2023 for newcomers and 13 August 2023 for existing members, the Xbox Game Pass subscription will see a 7.59% increase, moving from R79 per month to R85. But it’s not all doom and gloom, PC gamers! The Game Pass for PC will maintain its current price of R79 per month.
For those of you who enjoy the Game Pass Ultimate, which offers access to game libraries on both Xbox and PC, along with additional benefits like discounts, the price will ascend by 7.75% to R129, up from R119.
Despite the price tweaks, the Xbox Game Pass continues to offer remarkable value. It’s like the gaming world’s version of Netflix, providing access to a vast library of over 300 games for as long as your subscription stays active.
Microsoft showcased a powerful line-up of new titles at the recent 2023 Xbox Games Showcase, all of which will be available on the service from their release. This includes the eagerly-awaited Bethesda Softworks’ space open-world RPG Starfield, the thrilling Forza Motorsport racing game, and fantasy RPGs Avowed and Fable.
To give some historical context, the new Game Pass fees are still beneath the prices Microsoft charged when the service first launched locally in South Africa in September 2017. Since then, prices have been revised and even reduced in March 2022 by over 20% to their current rates. More recently, Microsoft introduced a Friends & Family plan for Game Pass Ultimate at R199 per month, allowing up to five users to enjoy the benefits on their own profiles. As it stands, there’s no update from Microsoft on price adjustments for this option.
Now, for an important bit of news: Braintree Gaming is here to make your gaming experience smoother! Did you know you can purchase Xbox Vouchers right here from us? That’s right! Make your gaming budget go further and keep your digital shelves stocked with the latest and greatest titles.
There you have it, fellow gamers. A slight increase in cost for a massive surge in gaming excellence. Remember, for the latest gaming news and your Xbox voucher needs, keep it locked on Braintree Gaming. Game on!