Numerous regions reportedly exempt from Xbox Game Pass price hike
Users from numerous users from various regions in the EU are reporting receiving an email from Microsoft, stating that the Xbox Game Pass price increase will only affect new purchases and not their current subscription. This exemption to the price increase may be connected to EU’s consumer protection laws.
The exact regions exempt from the price hike are not readily available; some users in India and Korea have supposedly received this email as well, thereby making the specific criteria for exemption “a bit confusing,” according to Forbes’ initial report on the matter. As of writing, there is an abundant amount of conflicting information regarding the nuances surrounding this matter. EU’s consumer protection laws are only applicable for nuanced scenarios, and the exempt users were not all based in the EU.
The United States is not included within the exempt regions. The users who have received an exemption from the price increase cannot cancel their current subscription. Doing so will result in having to pay the increased cost of Xbox Game Pass, a business decision made by Microsoft as a result of financial strain from major releases, such as Call of Duty.
Earlier this week, Microsoft removed the 10% discount on game and DLC purchases made on purchases previously available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. Instead, users will receive Microsoft Reward Points that can be converted into Xbox gift cards which must remain within Microsoft’s ecosystem.