Microsoft to increase prices of first party games in 2023

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Starfield

will be the first Microsoft titles for PC and Xbox to have the $70 price tag for a standard edition of the game.

It's true that Bethesda, a company recently acquired by Microsoft, launched the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition for the Nintendo Switch at a $70 price point, however, the game is not a standard edition and compiles all the DLCs and additional content for the decade-old title into a single package.

"This price reflects the content, scale, and technical complexity of these titles," a Microsoft spokesperson said about the price hike. As with all games developed by our teams at Xbox, they will also be available with Game Pass the same day they launch.

The company had, until now, resisted the urge to join other game developers in setting a new price point for first-party games. Microsoft's Phil Spencer stated in the past that an increase in prices for video games may turn away more casual players.

"Gaming can be an expensive hobby and I see certain platforms going to, in the US pricing, $70 for games," Xbox boss Spencer said in a September interview with La Vanguardia. "The consoles are $500 in US pricing, and I think that's a heavy investment for people who aren't every day playing video games, kind of the more casual player or a family that's balancing many things."

However, last month, Spencer hinted at a price hike for 2023. "I think at some point we'll have to raise the prices on certain things, but going into the holiday we thought it was important to maintain the prices," Spencer said in an interview at a WSJ Tech Live event.

"We've held price on our console, we've held price on games […] and our subscription. I don't think we'll be able to do that forever. I do think at some point we'll have to raise some prices on certain things," Spencer explains.

It is an interesting move by Microsoft as the company has some big titles coming up. The price increase should add even more value to the Xbox Game Pass subscription service. Microsoft typically adds its first-party titles as a day-one release on the subscription service.

The standard Game Pass costs $9.99 while the premium Game Pass Ultimate will set you back by $14.99. Being able to play first-party titles upon release at a lower cost is a great deal. However, just like with most subscription services, players will lose access to the game when their subscription ends.