Xbox Game Pass Annoys Players with Rising Prices and Intrusive Ads

On October 1, Microsoft ignited controversy around Xbox Game Pass by increasing subscription prices — and it didn’t stop there. From now on, every Xbox owner will be greeted by a full‑screen Xbox Game Pass Ultimate promo when they power on their console.

The subscription has undergone substantial changes: players must now pay considerably more for unrestricted access to the game library. It appears Microsoft wanted to ensure the updated plans couldn’t be missed, so it introduced a new promotional format that provoked strong reactions from users.

Gamers are criticizing not only the service itself but also the company’s tactics. Social networks are full of negative feedback — the community is outraged by the price increase while Microsoft is pushing the advertisement in users’ faces.

Xbox consoles now display a full‑screen Game Pass ad on the startup screen, arriving just one day after Microsoft announced a roughly 50% price increase. While this bold marketing move might serve as a reminder about the subscription and the new tiers, it also risks backfiring. In a climate where the community is already upset about higher costs, intrusive advertising could intensify the backlash and alienate even dedicated players.

Source: iXBT.games