Microsoft's harsh decision frustrates gamers
Oct. 2nd, 2025 01:33 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png)
The business of video gaming is enormous, to say the least.
Fresh forecasts predict 2025 gaming sales could reach roughly $189 billion, with consoles leading the way as the cycle resets and next-gen libraries expand.
One launch, though, towers over all in Take-Two Interactive’s (TTWO) GTA 6.
With Rockstar Games' release date locked for May 26, 2026, publishers, platforms, and retailers are already aligning themselves with the incredible windfall that’s about to come.
For perspective, the very first GTA 6 trailer shattered YouTube with an eye-popping 93 million views in 24 hours. The follow-up was even bigger, topping 475 million views across platforms in a single day (the biggest video debut of all time).
Also, its predecessor, GTA V, sold over 215 million copies, cementing Rockstar’s series as the biggest video gaming franchise in entertainment history.
Subscription muscle matters in the business of play.
According to recent tallies, Sony’s PS Plus boasts the largest subscriber base, with over $50 million; Nintendo Switch Online comes in second, with more than 40 million users; and Microsoft’s (MSFT) Game Pass trails with around mid-30 million.
Each of these offers three models, three price ladders, but remarkably different promises around day-one access and cloud.
Into that mix, Microsoft just turned things up a notch or two on its top tier. It’s a harsh adjustment, asking players to re-price convenience, prompting a rethink of which library and which logo gets their monthly spend.

Image source: TheStreet
Microsoft’s $29.99 Game Pass hike triggers gamer backlash
Microsoft’s latest Xbox move just hit gamers where it hurts, as Game Pass Ultimate is jumping 50% to $29.99 a month, the service’s biggest hike yet.
For perspective, that’s the third bump in nearly three years. In 2023, Ultimate's price increased to $16.99 from $14.99. In 2024, it shot up again to $19.99. Today’s leap to $29.99 pushes the annual tab to about $360. PC Game Pass also rose to $16.49.
Ultimate subscribers across console and PC take the hit, and PC-only players pay more, too.
Microsoft is also reshuffling tiers, with Core becoming Essential ($9.99), Standard becoming Premium ($14.99), and keeping day-one Xbox releases gated behind Ultimate. Additionally, the premium option includes a larger library and cloud access, but does not offer day-one support.
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In cushioning the blow, Microsoft is stuffing Ultimate with more value, including Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew, and higher-quality cloud streaming, along with a promise of 75+ day-one titles annually, including “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.” That’s a bigger bundle, but it comes at a far richer price.
The backlash has been swift.
Reports indicate that a surge of customers seeking to cancel their subscriptions resulted in Microsoft’s cancellation page buckling under the traffic, resulting in errors.
On forums, couples said $60 a month for two Ultimate subs was too steep a hike, while others noted they only play a handful of titles each year, which makes the $360 price tag virtually impossible to justify.
Quick takeaways:
- Ultimate to $29.99 (+50%); PC Game Pass to $16.49
- Day-one Xbox releases remain Ultimate-only
- New perks: Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew, 1440p cloud
- Backlash: Cancellation site crashed as exits spiked
Sony’s PS Plus and Nintendo Switch Online undercut Microsoft on price
For gamers doing the math, Microsoft’s Game Pass Ultimate at $29.99/month currently prices more like a premium streaming bundle. Mid-tier Premium ($14.99) and Essential ($9.99) plans are cheaper, but they exclude day-one access.
Sony’s (SONY) PS Plus holds the line monthly at $9.99/$14.99/$17.99, leaning on catalogs and classics. Also, Nintendo’s (NTDOY) Switch Online is perhaps the value outlier at $19.99/year (or $49.99 with Expansion Pack).
- Day-one access: Xbox Ultimate only; PS Plus usually excludes first-party day-ones.
- Cloud streaming: Included across Xbox tiers (best in Ultimate); PS Premium offers streaming on select titles.
- Nintendo Expansion Pack: Adds N64/GBA classics, along with major DLC bundles.
- Annual lens: Ultimate $360 vs. PS Plus Premium $159.99; Switch base $19.99.
So for those wanting brand-new Xbox tentpoles on launch, Ultimate is the way to go, but it’s now clearly a high-end line item.
PS Plus Extra/Premium could potentially be 45% to 55% cheaper every month, where users trade immediacy for breadth. Nintendo’s suite is a family-friendly budget play that effectively pairs low annual fees with evergreen classics and DLC.
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