Game Pass subscribers 'in certain countries' will not be affected by the price increase, at least 'for now,' because sometimes government regulation is actually a good thing

An illuminated sign for Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox Game Pass gaming subscription service sits on the ceiling at the Gamescom gaming industry event in Cologne, Germany, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019. Gamescom is the world's largest gaming convention and runs from August 20 to 24. Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images — (Image credit: Getty Images)

The big Game Pass price hike announced last week took an unexpected twist today as Microsoft has confirmed that subscribers "in certain countries" won't actually have to pay the higher rate, at least for now.

The issue first came to light on Reddit, where some users claimed to have received emails stating that their existing Game Pass subscription would not be impacted by the price change as long as they were on a recurring plan—that is, one that re-subscribes automatically. Others, however, said they received an email stating explicitly that their subscription rates are going up.

"Our recent Game Pass update remains unchanged," a Microsoft spokesperson said. "Current subscribers in certain countries will continue renewing at their existing price for now, in line with local requirements. We’ll provide advance notice before price adjustments take effect in these countries."

This isn't the only point of confusion to come up since the Game Pass price hike was announced. Microsoft told Polygon last week that people still on the old Game Pass for Console plan, which was phased out in 2024 but had a grandfather clause for existing subscribers, will be allowed to keep cruising as they are as long as they keep up automatic renewal payments and don't let their subscriptions lapse. GameStop, meanwhile, just blew the whole thing off, saying it will continue to offer Game Pass Ultimate at $19.99, in-store and online, regardless of what Microsoft does.

It is also, I must point out, a testament to the power of effective regulation: Pierre Trudeau, Canada's 15^th Prime Minister, famously once said "there's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation," and fair enough—but at the same time, a little judicious application of rules can go a long way, particularly when it comes to reining in the naked avarice of the world's biggest corporations.

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Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.

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