SpaceX Starship V3 Test Flight Boosts IPO Momentum Ahead of Historic Market Debut 
Texas Sues Meta Over WhatsApp Encryption Claims 
Lam Research Expands AI-Powered Semiconductor Tools and Arizona Operations 
Samsung Union Confirms 18-Day Strike After Failed Wage Talks 
China vs U.S. AI Race Shifts Toward Robotics and Manufacturing Power in 2026 
Intuit Raises Full-Year Forecast After Strong Q3 Earnings Despite Stock Drop 
OpenAI Expands Globally with First Overseas AI Lab in Singapore 
Tencent Shares Jump 4% as AI Models Move Toward Paid Commercial Services 
Nvidia Beats Earnings Expectations as AI Demand Drives Record Growth 
Analog Devices Nears $1.5B Acquisition of AI Chip Firm Empower Semiconductor 
CXMT Forecasts Record Revenue Growth as Global DRAM Prices Surge 
Anthropic Revenue Surge Signals Strong AI Market Momentum in 2026 
OpenAI Wins Elon Musk Lawsuit as Jury Rejects Claims Over AI Mission 
Samsung Faces Major Strike Threat as Union Restarts Pay Talks 
Microsoft has officially canceled its previously announced Xbox Live Gold price hike. To make peace with disgruntled gamers, the company also announced a massive change in its policy regarding free-to-play multiplayer games.
Microsoft backpedals on Xbox Live Gold price hike following backlash
The supposed Xbox Live Gold price hike was announced last week and would have primarily affected members subscribed to the one-month and three-month plans. Not surprisingly, it sparked outrage even among Xbox loyals.
To Microsoft’s credit, it immediately took action with the only proper response — canceling the Xbox Live Gold price hike. “We messed up today and you were right to let us know,” a follow-up statement reads. “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.”
In an apparent attempt to woo its fans, Microsoft also announced that Xbox Live Gold membership will no longer be required to play free-to-play multiplayer titles on Xbox like “Fortnite” and “Call of Duty: Warzone.” This should be a welcome change as The Verge pointed out, Xbox is the only platform that requires a paid subscription to access free-to-play multiplayer games. The date of implementation for this change is still unknown, but Microsoft said it would happen “in the coming months.”
Multiplayer gamers would have needed to spend $120 for a year just to access free-to-play games like “Fortnite” and “Call of Duty: Warzone.” If the Xbox Live Gold price hike were not canceled, members would have needed to pay $10.99 from $9.99 per month and $29.99 from $24.99 per three months. The six-month plan remains at $59.99.
The possible reason Microsoft attempted the Xbox Live Gold price hike
Fans and analysts suggested the Xbox Live Gold price hike was possibly another attempt of Microsoft to make Xbox Game Pass more appealing to its customers since the price change would have made the gap between Live Gold and Game Pass narrower. The company has been more aggressive in marketing the latter and building its catalog.
Microsoft entered an agreement with EA that brings the EA Play library to the Xbox Game Pass without added cost. The lucrative acquisition of Bethesda’s parent company Zenimax Media is also likely to benefit its cloud gaming service.
Featured photo by Chris Hardy on Unsplash
