Subscription Services
Ongoing coverage on Subscription Services.
Latest coverage
Xbox Game Pass lost “millions” of subscribers from 2025’s price hike
Xbox has admitted to losing millions of Xbox Game Pass subscribers following a significant price increase in October 2025. New CEO Asha Sharma has since lowered the price of Game Pass Ultimate to $23 per month, a move that may help to recover lost subscribers. The price hike was speculated to be in response to adding Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 as a day-one release.
Xbox Game Pass Lost “Millions of Subscribers” After 2025 Price Hike, per Chief Strategy Officer
Xbox's Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball confirmed that the company lost millions of subscribers following a significant price increase for Xbox Game Pass in October. While the exact timing of the price hike is unclear, the article suggests the decision negatively impacted the service's player base, though recent efforts may be helping to regain trust.
Xbox lost 'millions' of Game Pass subscribers after last year's massive price hike
Xbox experienced a loss of millions of Game Pass subscribers following a significant price increase in October 2025. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma acknowledged the prices were too high, leading to a subsequent reduction. While Call of Duty games will now be delayed in their addition to Game Pass, the price cut has reportedly improved subscriber acquisition and retention.
Xbox Game Pass lost "millions of subscribers" in just "a few months" after 50% price hike
Xbox experienced a significant subscriber loss, reportedly in the millions, within months of implementing a 50% price increase for Game Pass in October 2025. New CEO Asha Sharma acknowledged the negative impact and has initiated a strategy shift, including making some first-party titles like Gears of War: E-Day exclusive to Xbox consoles.
Google cuts the price of its AI Plus plan and doubles the storage
Google has reduced the price of its AI Plus subscription plan to $5 per month and doubled the included storage. This change aims to make the AI service more accessible to a wider range of users.
Xbox Game Lost “Millions” Of Subscribers When It Increased The Price Last fall
Xbox confirmed that a significant price increase for Xbox Game Pass last fall led to a loss of millions of subscribers. Following the price hike, the service experienced an eight-month decline, but growth has since resumed after subsequent price reductions. The article also mentions the upcoming exclusivity of Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution for Xbox, while Fable and Halo: Campaign Evolved are slated for PlayStation 5.
Xbox Game Pass Lost “Millions” Of Subscribers After Massive Price Hike In 2025
Xbox's chief strategy officer Matthew Ball confirmed that Xbox Game Pass lost millions of subscribers following a price increase to $30 per month in 2025. Microsoft later reduced the price of Game Pass Ultimate to $23 per month. The company also noted that stopping new Call of Duty releases on Game Pass resonated with users, and highlighted upcoming console exclusives like Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution.
Persona 6 Announced, Coming to Xbox Game Pass
Persona 6 has been officially announced and will be available on Xbox Game Pass upon its release. Further details regarding platforms and release date are expected.
How to get your money's worth from YouTube Premium
This article provides advice on how to maximize the value of a YouTube Premium subscription, especially for users who are already spending around $20 per month. It focuses on leveraging the benefits beyond just ad-free viewing.
Xbox Game Pass still has the spark on PC, but it's not because of Microsoft
Despite recent price adjustments, Xbox Game Pass remains a valuable service for PC players due to its library of diverse titles rather than Microsoft's first-party offerings. The service excels at introducing players to new experiences they might not otherwise discover or purchase, fostering a sense of library-like discovery.
"We have secured our components for this year" – Nex Playground hopes to avoid any further AI-related price rises
Nex CEO David Lee and president Thomas Kang have secured components for the Nex Playground console for the remainder of the year, aiming to avoid further price increases driven by AI infrastructure demand. The motion-controlled console, which proved popular in the US, is launching in the UK and Ireland with a focus on curated games via a subscription service and a cautious approach to online multiplayer.
Grab Octopath Traveler 2, Citizen Sleeper 2, and Six More Games in June’s Humble Choice
The June Humble Choice subscription bundle is now available, featuring Octopath Traveler 2 and Citizen Sleeper 2 as prominent titles. The lineup also includes The Riftbreaker and Life is Strange: Double Exposure, along with five other games for subscribers.
Subscriptions, Clouds, and Streams
Xbox Game Pass is adding several new titles to its subscription service, including Starseeker, Astroneer Expeditions, Beastro, and Undisputed. The article touches on broader industry trends like cloud gaming and game streaming.
The Subscription Audit Gap: $3,000/Year Unwatched | TAG
This article highlights the significant financial burden of multiple gaming subscription services, estimating annual costs between $1,000 and $3,000 per consumer. It contrasts this with the ongoing instability and layoffs within the gaming industry, such as Embracer Group's struggles and publisher-wide redundancies, suggesting a lack of consumer-facing accountability in the current business model.
Xbox Game Pass Loses These Five Games In June
Five games are set to leave Xbox Game Pass on June 15th: Jurassic World Evolution 2, Lost in Random, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine - Master Crafted Edition, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge. Subscribers have until this date to play these titles on cloud, console, and PC, with options to purchase them at a discount before they are removed.
Claude AI: What's free in 2026 and what isn't?
This article discusses the evolving free tier offerings of Claude AI, developed by Anthropic. It highlights the ambiguity of current limits and suggests that users should be aware of potential changes to what features remain accessible without a subscription in the future.
Games Leaving PS Plus in July 2026 May Include Beloved RPG
Sony is expected to announce the list of games leaving PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium in July 2026. Based on past patterns, titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous - Enhanced Edition are predicted to depart the service.
PS Plus 2026 Games Revealed Early, Includes Big Day-1 Surprise
Sony revealed four PlayStation Plus games for 2026, including the MMORPG RuneScape Dragonwilds launching day-one on PlayStation 5 for Extra subscribers. Additionally, three PS2 classics—Gitaroo Man, Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, and Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams—will be available for Premium members and for separate purchase.
New PlayStation Classics Are Gitaroo Man and Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams
Sony announced new additions to its PlayStation Classics library, including Gitaroo Man, Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, and Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams, all launching on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in June, July, and August 2026 respectively. These titles will be available to Premium-tier subscribers and for individual purchase.
These 3 Classic PS2 Games Are Coming to PS5 via PS Plus Premium Soon
Sony is adding three classic PlayStation 2 titles to its PlayStation Plus Premium subscription service: Gitaroo Man on June 16, 2026, Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy on July 28, 2026, and Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams on August 25, 2026. These additions continue Sony's trend of releasing one retro game per month for the service.
