Beginning in 2023, Xbox Series X|S games by Xbox Game Studios will be raised to $70 USD from the usual $60 pricing.
“This price reflects the content, scale, and technical complexity of these titles,” said a Microsoft spokesperson to IGN.
Expect games like Starfield, Redfall and the new Forza Motorsport, all built for the next-gen/not last-gen console Xbox Series X|S to be affected by this price hike.
However, Xbox noted that regional pricing may differ.
It’s an inevitable trend, this price hike. First started by Sony, more publishers have followed suit in raising prices for PS5 and Xbox Series games including 2K, EA, Ubisoft and Activision.
While a 10 US Dollar increase may seem meagre, the effect in other regions may be bigger due to exchange rates and lack of regional pricing. In Malaysia, the 10 US Dollar price tag has seen the game prices that usually retail at RM249 and RM269 now raised to RM299.
Xbox has little presence here in Southeast Asia as the console has no support outside of Singapore, but it still should affect the pricing of the PC version of the games which do get sold here.
Thankfully, all first-party Xbox Game Studios titles are included in Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. PC Game Pass is currently available in select countries in Southeast Asia. For Malaysia, it costs RM15 a month.
Source: IGN