Microsoft’s Xbox Live Gold price increase feels like manipulation

Microsoft is raising the price of Xbox Live Gold from $60 per year to $60 every six months. It included some caveats to that, and this increased fee doesn’t even affect Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. But it still seems like a miscalculation from a company that so often emphasizes value.

Xbox Live Gold already feels like an outdated, legacy product. It is the premium online service for Xbox consoles. And anyone wanting to play any online games on Xbox 360, Xbox One, or Xbox Series X/S must have an active Xbox Live Gold membership. The service also includes other perks like Games With Gold where players can add games to their library at no additional cost. As long as you have a Gold subscription, you continue to get access to those games.