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Engaged Xbox fans have criticized Xbox Live and the monthly Games with Gold offerings for years.
The conversations surrounding unnecessary premiums for console players arent new or even isolated to the Xbox ecosystem.
Xbox Game Pass Core is coming to console
Still, the forward-thinking policies implemented by Microsoft in recent years fostered optimistic possibilities for change.
Historically, Ive been extremely critical of the online multiplayer paywall that persists on Xbox consoles.
Right now, I can playSea of Thievesin a party chat with cloud saves on my PC for free.
Xbox Game Pass Plans 2023
That exact same experience is $9.99/month ($59.99/year) on my Xbox Series X|S.
Microsoft has championed crossplay and embracing the preferred devices of its audience.
So why are they segmenting the pricing and fees applied to different groups of the community?
Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members are being charged 70% more than PC players for effectively the same subscription.
Xbox console players have increasingly shared frustrations and disappointment surrounding the perceived lack of attention for dedicated Xbox hardware.
- Xbox Game Pass Core is replacing Xbox Live Gold.
PC Game is $9.99/month, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is $16.99/month.
Still, console audiences are aggressively driven to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate because of their commitments to the hardware.
Weve often praised Microsoft for pushing pro-consumer practices and applauded Xbox Game Pass as the best deal in gaming.
Is this really a big deal?
Ultimately,Xbox Game Passcontinues to deliver outstanding value.
It also eases long-term console players into the theoretical benefits of upgrading to their Xbox Game Pass subscription.
Im not alone when I say I think the online multiplayer paywall on Xbox consoles needs to go away.
I dont think it belongs on PlayStation or Nintendo either in the current gaming landscape.
