Microsoft Increases Xbox Live Subscription Prices

August 30, 2010 10:00 AM

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Although Nintendo has seen fit to lower prices today, Microsoft has decided to take the road less traveled.

Today, Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb announced that Microsoft will increase subscription prices for Xbox Live beginning November 1, 2010. (Just in time for that Call of Duty: Black Ops game everyone is talking about!)

In the United States, annual subscription prices will increase to $59.99 (up from $49.99), three-month plans will increase to $24.99 (up from $19.99) and one-month plans will rise to $9.99 (up from $7.99). Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom will also see increases.

In response to the change, Electronic Entertainment Design and Research (EEDAR) vice president of analyst service Jesse Divinich noted, "When taking into account for inflation ($50 in 2002 is roughly $60 in 2010) and the additional services available to Gold subscribers in 2010 [...] a $10 price increase still represents an incredible value to consumers."

According to its own data, the EEDAR claims 30% of Xbox 360 owners have played a game online "15 times or more in the last 3 months," compared to 23% on the PS3 and 10% on Wii. Nintendo and Sony do not charge consumers for online gaming. Sony recently launched a subscription service of its own, giving PlayStation Plus subscribers an assortment of bonuses for an annual fee.

Although the EEDAR believes the price increase "will do little to impact the positive momentum of the Xbox 360," Shacknews asserts that comments attached to this post will most certainly skew on the negative side.

Xav de Matos

Xav de Matos was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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Batmanshack

 reply
August 30, 2010 10:05 AM

And this is why I own a PS3 for free PSN accounts... No point bitchin because they (microsoft) know people will pay it up and nothing will change...
- ShXIII
  
   reply
  August 30, 2010 10:27 AM
  
  Exactly, I'm just glad PC users banded together and told GFWL took go fuck themselves, they eventually learned.
  - o.flaherty
    
     reply
    August 30, 2010 11:02 AM
    
    indeed, don't worry microsoft, we'll run our own servers, now jog on.