Hardware maker and video game publisher Microsoft has announced that it will be increasing the cost of subscriptions for its Xbox Live service for the Xbox 360 home console in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Mexico.
The company says that those users of its
gaming platform that are interesting in avoiding the price increase can to do so by renewing their subscription or by upgrading it before November 1, when the price rise is set to go into effect.
A one month subscription will then go from 7.99 dollars to 9.99, with a three month package going from 19.99 to 24.99 dollars and those who are interested in getting the service for twelve months needing to pay 59.99 dollars instead of 49.99 as they do now.
The increase in the United Kingdom and in Canada has gone up from 4.99 Pounds and 8.99 Canadian dollars to 5.99 and 9.99 for one month.
In Mexico the increase curiously only applies for the one year subscription, which now costs 599 Pesos.
Jesse Divnich, who is an analyst of the video game industry for EEDAR, stated, “When originally launched in 2002, a Gold subscription cost the same as an AAA video game, $49.99. When taking into account for inflation ($50 in 2002 is roughly $60 in 2010) and the additional services available to Gold subscribers in 2010, such as ESPN, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Last.fm and Video Kinect, a $10 price increase still represents an incredible value to consumers.”
The move will certainly provide ammunition for Sony, who will waste no time in making sure that everyone known that the PlayStation Network does not charge a subscription and offers much of the same services as Xbox Live.
Microsoft will probably continue to offer discounts and bundles for
Xbox Live while pointing out that despite its costs the service is preferred by those who play hardcore online games.
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