A supernova of a launch is expected later this month as Bethesda and Microsoft finally cuts the ribbons and let those who paid for Early Access to enjoy Starfield, its first new IP in nearly three decades.
Unfortunately, for those looking forward to hop aboard the Starfield hypetrain (or is it spaceship?) for a low price will have to prepare a bit more.
Ever since its inception, Xbox’s Game Pass had become the stellar path for many gamers to discover and experience a bunch of new worlds, all for the mere price of a small monthly fee. The glow of this proposition became even brighter when Microsoft generously offered a way for first-time users to try out the Game Pass service for just $1, a literal bargain if there ever was one.
But as the awaited Starfield launch neared, Microsoft, like a black hole, seemed to draw back its generosity, leaving a void where once lay a beacon of value. Initial alterations saw the $1 trial offer shorten from an entire month to just a fortnight. Then, as quickly as a ship travelling faster than the speed of light, the deal disappeared altogether.
There’s no way around it. The trial offer is officially gone, leaving behind a trail of “disappointed” gamers.
It’s not difficult to see that this was a perfectly orchestrated move to coincide with Starfield’s release over the next two weeks. A game of such magnitude, backed by years of development and anticipation, was bound to attract millions who are eager to explore the vastness of Bethesda’s spacefaring universe.
Indeed, Microsoft’s strategy here isn’t as mysterious as the uncharted galaxies within Starfield, which may feature fully explorable planets. Having invested a cosmic sum to acquire Bethesda, some fiscal maneuvering was inevitable if only so that Microsoft can find a way to recoup its investment, especially after Redfall failed so terribly earlier this year.
With Starfield promising to be a massive revenue generator, pausing the trial offer during its launch is a clear strategic move. Simply put: it’s business, albeit viewed by some as the darker side of the universe.
The Game Pass alterations weren’t the only price-related shifts. Xbox Game Pass’s monthly fee witnessed a recent hike, increasing to $10.99 for the standard subscription, while the Game Pass Ultimate jumped to $16.99. The latter allows its players to experience the gaming multiverse via the cloud. And, interestingly, players in select countries, including Norway and Switzerland, were left untouched by this surge.
However, the universe always finds a way to balance itself out. Those feeling left out in the cold vastness of space could find solace in Amazon’s offer: a 3-month subscription for a mere $40, bringing some semblance of order to the gaming world’s fiscal galaxy. Additionally, the PC gaming community still had the “refer a friend” initiative to lean on, offering 14-day trials.
Starfield’s launch aside, the Game Pass situation is understandable. Microsoft knows that it can’t continue to offer the Game Pass for a lower price, much less close to free. This is a necessary strategy to balance business viability with consumer satisfaction.
As players prep their consoles, ensuring they have the whopping 100.19GB (or even 139.84GB for the PC aficionados) to enjoy the game, they’ll all be diving into a universe crafted with passion and intrigue.
In the end, perhaps that’s what matters the most. The chance to explore uncharted territories in Starfield and create an entire new planet or two, even if the journey there experienced some cosmic turbulence.
