Xbox Is Killing All the Appeal of Game Pass | Unpacked

And this price hike is happening at the same time that we're constantly reading about all the mass layoffs Microsoft is causing, the way they're supplying tools that Israel is using while committing genocide, and under related protest / boycott movements both within and without of the company. So... many of us already felt like we *should* cancel our Game Pass subscriptions, but hadn't quite gotten around to it due to inertia and the temptation of titles we hadn't finished. When I heard about the price hike, I couldn't hit 'cancel' fast enough. Silksong is one of their prominently featured Hot New Titles in the splash art. At $30, a month of Game Pass costs 150% the cost of Silksong!

I remember going to the Microsoft Store (remember those?) with some from my charity gaming group to watch the Xbox E3 press conference where Game Pass was first announced. We were gobsmacked at what a value it was. And now? I was hardly using my lowest-tier Game Pass, so I cancelled it last week.

Did the website to cancel crash or did they take it offline to prevent cancellations?

Game Pass jacking up prices reminds me of Darren going over how Netflix was only valued so highly because it was new and sexy to investors. It actually wasn't nearly as profitable as it let on and basically had to lie to investors to make money before it actually became even slightly valuable

I get Game Pass Ultimate bundled in as a switchable add-on with my phone tariff (EE in the UK), I was lucky to get that deal a couple of years ago and for a lower price than I was paying without it. This was after EE jacked up the old tariff price enough for me to get irritated. Of course there are annual increases but I still feel like it's great value. The deal is no longer offered on such a cheap tariff, so I'm waiting to see how long it lasts. I at least hope it lasts long enough for me to try The Outer Worlds 2 and PowerWash Simulator 2, because I certainly can't justify the full price of Game Pass. I like to try lots of different games too, PWS and Blue Prince were tried on a whim because I could and I enjoyed both. Once I lose my deal I don't feel like I play games for long enough to justify the high purchase price, so I probably won't bother playing these games. In the days of physical media I would've purchased them and traded them in, we all know those days are long gone.

It was never going to last. I subscribed when it was cheap. I got to try a ton of indie games that I normally wouldn't have. it was fantastic for discovering games like Dicey Dungeons and Road 96. It was useful when I had a bunch of people over and we wanted to play something couch co-op. I discovered Gang Beasts and Human Fall Flat. But then I found Solasta: Crown of the Magister and then Balder's Gate 3 came out and I remembered what It was like to play something that could capture my attention for long periods of time. I just didn't need game pass after that. I guess what I really want is easy access to demos so I can tell if a game is good.