Update: Various Pure Xbox users have suggested to us that Microsoft hasn't re-added 12 month Xbox Live Gold subscriptions as an option on the Microsoft Store in Latin America, so the increased price for this membership appears to be for renewals and retail codes only.
Original story: Microsoft has announced today that it is increasing prices for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass in a variety of Latin America regions, including Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and others.
In a note sent to Brazilian outlet Tecnoblog, the company confirmed that reports of the increase were legit:
“We are continuously evaluating our business and it has been several years since we adjusted the prices of our services in Latin America. We also occasionally review prices in a given market to ensure that products and services are priced correctly, including reflecting changes in market conditions.
Today, we announce updated prices for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass for Console and Xbox Live Gold. We strive to offer players options and will continue to add value to our services and subscriptions.”
The changes, which are scheduled to take place from October 20th onwards, are speculated from the outlet to be related to the "increase in the dollar", and the website additionally highlights that Nintendo also raised the price of various games on the Brazilian Nintendo Store earlier this week.
Interestingly, 12 months of Xbox Live Gold will seemingly continue to be supported in the region (increasing from R$ 149 to R$ 199), suggesting the service isn't planned to go free any time soon as recently rumoured.
What are your thoughts on this? Will you be affected? Let us know in the comments below.
[source tecnoblog.net]
Comments 11
If this is a currency issue then it would make sense. Regarding the on going rumor of free online: There is no smoke without a fire. With GamePass on PCs, Smartphones, tablets and consoles, some services need to be streamline. But you also have players out of Game Pass playing the same games on some of these devices. So how do you bring them all together? Free MP. Anyways, my two cents.
Brazil is really struggling due to currency issues. The increase is gonna be R$ 5 here, which is a little less than a dollar. The service is incredible and it's totally worth it in my opinion. It's still cheap given what it offers
Nintendo, on the other hand, increased considerably Brazilian eshop games. Some of them went up around 9 or 10 dollars. That's too much. I won't pay that much for new games. Xbox store is much cheaper. There's no comparison between them in terms of prices
Hmm that means in the other regions like Europe and the US they are trying to effectively force you into Game Pass by eliminating the 12 month Xbox Gold pass unless you buy it from a store, or CD Keys if they still do it. Not sure that’s a smart move as when they inevitably increase Game Pass price it may not be as good.
@John_Deacon Interesting! Can you confirm whether you can still buy 12 months of Xbox Live Gold from the Microsoft Store directly?
@kuliddar Agree with regards to free multiplayer coming. Maybe they’ll add something to Gold to offset the perceived loss of value, since it seems they aren’t intent on eliminating it yet. But free multiplayer just makes sense, and would be such a huge feather in Microsoft’s cap.
@FraserG From the microsft website I can only purchase 3 or 6 months in Brazil. 12 months is unavailable. I guess they're referring to pre-paid cards, at least for the 12 months.
@duhsoares21 Good to know, thanks!
That's not good news lol
@FraserG only 3 or 6-month subscriptions. I couldn't find 12-month ones
Was literally just talking to one of my in laws and he told me this! Definitely sucks :/
As everyone who comments in on this site knows.... I am an Xbox guy, big time.
But this whole online thing is starting to bug me. Microsoft should just either announce what they are doing with Xbox Live or squash all the rumors.
Microsoft was so transparent there for awhile & it was refreshing. Now they are acting like Sony & keeping everything close to the chest.
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