It’s called course correction. And it’s art.
On Friday, Microsoft announced their plans to up the price of Xbox Live Gold. And, after facing more than a few disgruntled customers over it, they walked back the planned change before the day was over. Moreover, they’ve also removed the requirement for users to have Xbox Live Gold for free-to-play games.
Previously, they announced that the changes would be as followed: $11 for one month (+$1 from its previous price), $30 for 3 months (an increase of $5), and $60 for 6 months (an addition of $20 over its previous price).
The obvious play was likely to drive more users to buy Xbox Game Pass. But the backlash was so severe, they changed tack before the stroke of midnight in most of the country. Microsoft’s statement on the matter:
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. Free-to-play games will truly be free and 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.
In addition, Xbox’s Phil Spencer took to Twitter to apologize for the announcement.
Needless to say, the abandoned move probably soured at least a few fans. Which is notable considering all the work put into the brand over the past year.
Source: IGN
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