GameStop takes a swipe at Microsoft after Game Pass blunder

Video-game fans are willing to take a lot. 

Whether it’s development delays, character redesigns, or in-game purchases, gamers have had to endure a lot from the companies that produce their entertainment. 

But occasionally, gamers get pushed too far, and the collective online backlash is palpable. 

This week, Microsoft  (MSFT)  made a mistake that has the gaming community fuming. 

This week, Microsoft revealed that it is raising the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price by 50% in the U.S. from $19.99 a month to $29.99 a month. 

Game Pass was revolutionary when it debuted in 2017. It allowed gamers to access hundreds of downloadable games for just $20 a month.

Game Pass has been a runaway hit, with Microsoft reporting a 10% increase in gaming revenue in the fiscal fourth quarter and Game Pass annual revenue of nearly $5 billion for fiscal 2025. 

Xbox reported a 10% increase in annual gaming revenue, “driven by better than expected performance from first-party content and Xbox Game Pass.”

Xbox fans are not happy about Game Pass price increase

As popular as Game Pass is, and as good a deal it has been for both gamers and Microsoft, the online backlash against the price increase has been vicious. 

“I’ve had nothing but the highest tier Xbox Gold/Game Pass subscription since 2007. EIGHTEEN YEARS. After hearing about the latest price hike, I couldn’t cancel #XboxGamePass fast enough. Good-bye, Xbox. Thanks for the memories,” user Tim Lewis @d21lewis wrote on X. 

Related: Morgan Stanley Makes Huge Call on Microsoft

Users are sharing the website to cancel Xbox Game Pass with user XBG @xboxBG, adding, “Happy to see people coming together. Cancel Xbox Game Pass.”

Other users speculated that Microsoft would lose more than it would gain from this price hike. 

“A MASS exodus of canceling Game Pass is happening right now, and Xbox will lose more money than the 50% price hike could ever make up!” user colteastwood @Colteastwood speculated. 

Smelling blood in the water, video game retailer GameStop joined in dunking on Microsoft, tweeting a diss to its nearly 2 million followers on X (formerly Twitter). 

GameStop takes a swipe at Microsoft after Game Pass price hike

Video-game retailer GameStop  (GME)  has been one of the biggest victims of the video-game subscription model. 

Now that gamers don’t have to plop down $70 per game disk, or even leave their house to buy a game, GameStop has been relegated from a huge company to a meme stock. 

Related: Microsoft’s harsh decision frustrates gamers

These days, GameStop makes news for doing things like purchasing bitcoin and launching a non-fungible token. 

This week, GameStop is making news for dunking on Game Pass. Its post on X reads:

Game Pass: $29.99 every month. Own nothing.

GameStop: Buy once. Own forever.

Math isn’t that hard.

GameStop shares fell slightly on Thursday but are up 22% over the past six months. 

Microsoft defends Game Pass price increase

According to Microsoft, the Game Pass price increase is more than just a cash grab; it is a way to provide gamers with a better product. 

“With the latest upgrades, Ultimate is now priced at $29.99/month, reflecting the expanded catalog, new partner benefits, and upgraded cloud gaming experience,” the company shared. 

Ultimate subscribers will now get access to over 75 day-one releases a year as part of a library that features more than 400 games, including 45 new games added in October. 

Related: Ford takes Tesla EV battle to the NFL

#GameStop #takes #swipe #Microsoft #Game #Pass #blunder