To end the week with a bang, Microsoft has just announced that the price of its much-loved Game Pass subscription service for Xbox will increase in several counties, including South Africa, from the 6th of July.
It’s not a huge price increase and doesn’t include the PC version of Game Pass, but it is still an increase. According to Kari Perez, the head of communications for Xbox, the price hike is intended to allow the service price to align more with local market conditions.
For South African gamers, an Xbox Game Pass subscription will increase from R79 per month to R85, making it a 7.59% raise. Game Pass Ultimate will also be rising from R119 to R129.
These price changes will go into effect from the 6th of July for new subscribers to the service and from the 13th of August for existing members. And as previously mentioned, Game Pass for PC will stay at its existing R79 per month.
Even with these slight increases to the subscription cost, Game Pass is still cheaper than it was at launch locally, with the initial price for an Xbox Game Pass subscription coming in at R159.
Microsft has yet to announce if the recently released Friends & Family plan for Game Pass Ultimate will increase from R199 per month or if it will remain the same.
What are your thoughts on this price increase? Is it justified considering the number of games that the service offers? Let us know in the comments.