Microsoft hikes Xbox Live fees

Posted on 1 Sep 2010 at 10:48

Microsoft has announced that its paid-for gaming service, Xbox Live Gold, will see a price hike in the UK, the US, Canada, and Mexico - possibly as a reaction to Sony's launch of a similar paid-for service.

The UK is significantly less affected than the US by the rises: starting on the 1st of November, the one-month subscription option will rise from its current price of £4.99 to £5.99. All other subscription options - including the three-month and twelve-month periods - will remain at their current price levels.

This increase reflects changes made in Canada - where the cost of a one-month subscription rises from $8.99 to $9.99 - and marks the first price rise since the subscription service launched in 2002.

US gamers, however, will see more sweeping price rises: as well as an increase in the one-month subscription cost from $7.99 to $9.99, the cost of a three-month subscription will rise from $19.99 to $24.99, while a twelve-month subscription - the most common length - rises from $49.99 to $59.99.

Xbox Live director of programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb stated in an announcement that Microsoft is "confident that when the new pricing takes effect, an Xbox LIVE Gold membership will continue to offer the best value in the industry," despite the launch of a competing service from Sony for its PlayStation 3 console which offers subscribers free games for the duration of their subscription.

Reactions from gamers to the price rises have been predictably irate, but it remains to see if the higher cost affects renewal rates come November.

Author: Gareth Halfacree

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