Recently, PlayStation 5 saw a price hike across several regions. This led to concerns about Microsoft following suit, but Phil Spencer quickly assured consumers that Xbox would not be hiking prices anytime soon.
However, a recent interview has some interesting implications for the future of the Xbox brand. Speaking at WSJ Tech Live, Phil Spencer has hinted at some point at potential price hikes for Xbox consoles and Game Pass.
Since its initial launch, Xbox Game Pass has improved in quality. The service continues to provide quality day-one releases like Plague Tale: Requiem for a low monthly price.
On the other hand, Xbox consoles have seemingly covered every segment of the market. The Xbox Series S continues to appeal to the budget-oriented consumer, while the Xbox Series X sits comfortably at the top of the console hierarchy. Despite Microsoft’s appealing offerings, the company has not increased prices in the current economic situation.
However, Phil Spencer’s latest statement might be a cause for concern. He stated;
“I do think at some point we’ll have to raise some prices on certain things, but going into this holiday we thought it was really important to maintain prices That We have.”
This means that Microsoft has not ruled out the possibility of a future price hike, and the company is likely contemplating effective strategies to increase specific prices. It should be noted that Phil Spencer has talked about Xbox games, consoles, and Game Pass in the previous statement, so all three are potential contenders for an eventual price increase.
Compared to PlayStation’s current pricing, Xbox consoles have a much better value proposition. But this could change at some point in the future, going by Phil Spencer’s latest statement.
Microsoft will also see a number of first-party releases in the coming year. Big AAA games like Starfield, Redfall, and Forza Motorsport are set to debut as the big showcase for the Xbox Series S|X consoles. These games will elevate Xbox Game Pass to new heights and could provide Microsoft the confidence needed to raise prices for the subscription service.
Furthermore, Microsoft is currently in the process of acquiring Activision Blizzard. This has been a huge investment from the company, costing nearly $70 Billion. The company will likely attempt to utilize Xbox games, consoles, and Game Pass to recover some of this money in the future.
Despite the concerns, Phil Spencer has also stated that Microsoft does not intend to raise prices for this holiday. Since the initial release, the current generation has suffered from supply problems and economic challenges. The upcoming holiday season will likely see the best console supply compared to previous years, so Microsoft is wise to maintain prices.
The effects of a possible price remain to be seen, but Phil Spencer has clearly stated that price hikes are inevitable. The Xbox brand has made a lot of great moves in the last few years, but it remains to be seen if Microsoft can continue this recent success without losing market share to rival console manufacturers.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
