As Starfield gears up for its early access release on August 31, Microsoft has strategically discontinued the prevalent $1 Xbox Game Pass deal. This comes amidst a backdrop of general price increases for Game Pass subscriptions.
Microsoft’s move to end the $1 Game Pass promotional deal days before Starfield’s early access release can be considered a calculated strategy to maximize revenue. This decision came after Microsoft, in most markets, increased the subscription price for Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on July 6.
The monthly subscription fee for Xbox Game Pass for console users rose from $9.99 to $10.99. The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also saw a monthly price jump from $14.99 to $16.99. The price increases did not affect markets like Norway, Chile, Denmark, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia.
Starfield, one of the most anticipated games this fall, offers multiple purchase options. The standard $70 version will be accessible via Xbox Game Pass. However, the Digital Premium Edition and the $300 Constellation Edition include perks like the first story expansion, Shattered Space, and up to five days of early access.
The timely combination of a price hike, the withdrawal of the $1 deal, and the upcoming release of Starfield appears to be a finely-tuned strategy by Microsoft.
