Rising costs in the gaming industry are impacting both companies and players. As companies face layoffs and project cancellations, they are trying to maximize the value of their services. Microsoft, for example, has announced an increase in the price of Xbox Game Pass. The PC and Ultimate tiers will see a price increase of $2 and $3 per month, respectively. Additionally, a new “Standard” tier will be introduced at a cheaper price but without day one games. This change comes just before Microsoft plans to add Activision Blizzard titles to the service.
While this move may make sense from a business perspective, it can be frustrating for consumers. The extra cost can be a burden for players who already have to budget for other expenses. EA and Respawn also faced backlash when they made changes to the Apex Legends battle pass. Players can now only purchase it with real money, rather than in-game currency. The battle pass has also been split into two shorter passes every six weeks instead of one longer pass every season. This decision has received negative reactions from players, leading to review-bombing on Steam.
Despite these challenges, there are still new games to enjoy. Some notable releases this week include Darkest Dungeon II, Anger Foot, Once Human, Death Game Hotel, Zero Caliber 2, Kaku: Ancient Seal, and Hamster Playground. Additionally, there are new games available on subscription services such as Cricket 24, The Case of the Golden Idol, Neon White, Tchia, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II — The Sith Lords, Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX, Samurai Bringer, and Densetsu no Starfy 2 and 3 on Nintendo Switch Online.
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