Xbox abandons price hike for game software, abandons 1,500 yen price increase due to criticism from users
Microsoft announced that it would raise the price of new games from $70 (approximately 10,900 yen) to $80 (approximately 12,500 yen) in May 2025. However, this price increase plan resulted in criticism from users, so the head of Xbox revealed that he abandoned the price increase.
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Xbox Boss Reacts To Dropping Plans For $80 Games - GameSpot
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-boss-reacts-to-dropping-plans-for-80-games/1100-6536931/
Microsoft has raised the price of first-party titles from $60 to $70 in 2023.
Following this price increase, the company raised the prices of Xbox Series S|X and peripherals in May 2025. At that time, it announced that it would raise the selling price of some first-party titles from $70 to $80 starting from the 2025 holiday season.
Microsoft raises prices on Xbox Series S | X and peripherals, increasing prices by 1.3 to 1.4 times in Japan - GIGAZINE
However, in mid-December 2025, right in the middle of the holiday season, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty revealed in an interview with Variety that, in response to user feedback, the decision had been made to keep The Outer Worlds 2 , which had been scheduled for sale for $80, at the original price of $70.
'We're committed to providing player satisfaction and value, and we're always listening to what people want,' Booty said. 'As people begin to engage with games in different ways, they'll be less concerned with the price of the game. From our perspective, monetization is now done in a very diverse way. So we'll continue to listen to feedback from our fans and move forward while striking a balance between healthy business and operations. However, at this time, we have no plans to revise the prices of our content,' he said, emphasizing that future pricing plans are back to square one.
While Microsoft has abandoned plans to raise the prices of its first-party games in 2025, it has raised the prices of its consoles, including the Xbox Series X. The company has even increased the monthly fee for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate by 50%.
Microsoft's game subscription service 'Xbox Game Pass' raises prices, with the top plan increasing by 50% - GIGAZINE
According to GameSpot, Nintendo is selling Mario Kart World in the US for $80.
However, the selling price of Mario Kart World on Amazon.co.jp in Japan is 8,618 yen including tax.
Amazon.co.jp: Mario Kart World -Switch2: Games
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in Game, Posted by logu_ii