The gaming industry is facing significant challenges, evidenced by numerous layoffs and project cancellations. Companies across the board are cutting back to weather the current tough economic climate.
Unfortunately, this is impacting players as well, with increasing costs for games and related services. Recently, Microsoft announced another price hike for its Xbox Game Pass, introducing a cheaper “Standard” tier that excludes day-one games.
Specifically, the prices for the PC and Ultimate tiers of Game Pass are increasing by $2 and $3 per month, respectively. Additionally, Xbox Game Pass for Console is being discontinued for new users, although existing subscribers are grandfathered in.
This price adjustment is likely timed with Microsoft’s plan to incorporate Activision Blizzard titles into the service. While this move makes business sense, especially with the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, it places a financial strain on consumers.
Gaming Industry Faces Economic Challenges; Players Feel Impact with Rising Costs and Service Changes
Another significant development is from EA and Respawn, who recently changed the Apex Legends battle pass system. Players must now purchase the battle pass with real money instead of in-game currency, and the pass is now split into two 60-rank segments per six weeks instead of one 110-rank season pass. This change has sparked backlash, with the game receiving numerous negative reviews on Steam.
The gaming scene isn’t very cheerful this week, and the author, feeling unwell, plans to retreat into some familiar and cozy games to recover. With new game releases being sparse, they intend to replay Dragon Age: Inquisition before the launch of Veilguard and enjoy Xbox Game Pass titles before the price hike on September 12.
Meanwhile, GamesBeat has partnered with Lil Snack to offer customized games for its audience, aiming to engage gamers in new ways. This partnership highlights the community’s passion for interactive content and adds a fun element to the GamesBeat experience.
This week’s notable new game releases include Darkest Dungeon II, Anger Foot, and Once Human. Subscription service additions feature Cricket 24 and The Case of the Golden Idol on Xbox Game Pass, along with several titles on Prime Gaming and Nintendo Switch Online, providing a variety of options for players to explore.
