Well, that was a fast one! Earlier today/yesterday, Microsoft announced an increase in Xbox Live Gold subscriptions. In just hours however, the company has reverted it and has even taken out the paywall for free-to-play games — something the PlayStation platform has done for years.
Here’s the new announcement made by Microsoft in full:
We messed up today and you were right to let us know. Connecting and playing with friends is a vital part of gaming and we failed to meet the expectations of players who count on it every day. As a result, we have decided not to change Xbox Live Gold pricing.
We’re turning this moment into an opportunity to bring Xbox Live more in line with how we see the player at the center of their experience. For free-to-play games, you will no longer need an Xbox Live Gold membership to play those games on Xbox. We are working hard to deliver this change as soon as possible in the coming months.
If you are an Xbox Live Gold member already, you stay at your current price for renewal. New and existing members can continue to enjoy Xbox Live Gold for the same prices they pay today. In the US, $9.99 for 1-month, $24.99 for 3-months, $39.99 for 6-months and $59.99 for retail 12-months.
Thank you.
This is one of those times when gamers’ voices all rallied as one, and it worked out for the better! Once free-to-play games no longer require XBL Gold, we’ll make sure to let our readers know.
