Microsoft U-turns Xbox Live price hike and makes free-to-play games truly free

After facing fierce backlash from the gaming community at the announcement Microsoft would be doubling the price of its Xbox Live Gold service, the Redmond-based company has now taken a u-turn. What’s more, seemingly as a gesture of good will to calm the backlash, free-to-play games will no longer require the paid Xbox Live Gold subscription to play. Whilst both of these announcements are most welcome, one does still wonder why Microsoft thought it a good idea to double the price of their service in the midst of a global pandemic.

In an official statement, Microsoft acknowledged they messed up and detailed the u-turn on their previous announcement of a price hike: 

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. For free-to-play games, 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.