has confirmed it’ll enhance the costs of a few of its first-party video games to $70 beginning in 2023. Specifically, main video games constructed for Xbox Series X/S will value $10 extra within the US, together with , and . Regional worth will increase might fluctuate.

“This price reflects the content, scale, and technical complexity of these titles,” a Microsoft spokesperson informed IGN, which first reported the information. “As with all video games developed by our groups at Xbox, they may even be accessible with Game Pass the identical day they launch.”

Other main publishers, together with Sony, EA and Take-Two Interactive, have been charging $70 for choose current-gen video games. Microsoft was in a position to maintain off on growing costs, probably as a result of the corporate would not depend on video games as its major income driver.

In August, Sony in most nations, however not the US. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer his firm would not increase Xbox costs forward of the vacation season (the Xbox Series S in November), however famous that “I do think at some point we’ll have to raise the prices on certain things.” We’re beginning to see that play out now.

One potential end result of Xbox elevating costs on first-party video games is that extra individuals could also be keen to check out Game Pass. Starfield, Redfall and Forza Motorsport will all be accessible on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass on day one. That might make Game Pass extra enticing and a fair higher worth proposition — at the very least till Xbox inevitably raises the worth of its subscription providers too.

Furthermore, this appears to mark the start of a shift away from releasing main new video games on previous-generation consoles. With the exception of , Microsoft has made native Xbox One variations of its Series X/S video games.