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Microsoft announced on January 22, 2021 that the Xbox Live Gold price would increase. However, less than 24 hours later, Microsoft reversed its decision via an official blog post. The price for the online service will stay the same. Additionally, free-to-play games will no longer require membership in the near future.
Xbox players met the initial announcement with pushback, leading the company to reconsider. Microsoft stated that it “messed up” with its Xbox Live Gold cost increase. It further admitted that it “failed to meet the expectations of players” in regards to its multiplayer functionality. The main takeaways here are that the pricing structure will not change, and free-to-play games will no longer require an Xbox Live Gold membership. Microsoft says that it is working on making this change “as soon as possible in the coming months.” As of January 23, 2021, the amended prices in USD are as follows:
- 1-month membership: $9.99
- 3-months membership: $24.99
- 6-months membership: $39.99
- 12-months membership: $59.99
Xbox Live Gold is a subscription service for players to enjoy online multiplayer, as well as gain access to a selection of Xbox 360 and Xbox One titles. Microsoft has increased the price of the membership in the past. However, in this instance, the company will not be increasing Xbox Live Gold price as previously stated.
