By “We’re heeding the input of players…”
- by Ben Kerry
It’s reasonable to assert that the recent Game Pass modifications haven’t precisely been well-received by Xbox enthusiasts, particularly the significant price increase for Ultimate members – and we’ve now noticed some quotes from Microsoft executives that were revealed alongside these modifications, including a reference to the team actively “heeding the input of players” in the future.
In a discussion with The Verge, Microsoft’s director of gaming and platform communications, Dustin Blackwell, stated that price increases “are never enjoyable” – further adding that the team is undertaking initiatives to provide enhanced value to each Xbox Game Pass tier concurrent with these hikes. Here’s what Blackwell conveyed regarding this:
“We realize price hikes are never enjoyable for anyone, but we’re endeavoring to reinforce by providing added value to these plans as well,
It’s a matter we don’t take lightly, and we’re heeding the input of players and the community to attempt to offer them more of what they’re seeking.”
Only time will tell if the considerable backlash regarding the GPU price hike is considered feedback they’re willing to address, but they certainly must have acknowledged it. For now, Microsoft appears committed to this new trio of Game Pass offerings — complete with its vibrant marketing initiative and new terminology — but anyone who has followed Xbox for a considerable time understands that shifts can happen rapidly within Team Green.
Naturally, it also stands to reason that Xbox might simply continue bundling additional features into its priciest Game Pass tier. The preceding quote mentions striving to “offer them [fans] more of what they’re seeking”, so we’ll need to wait and see if Microsoft continues to enhance its Xbox Game Pass service with more rewards in the future.
What are your thoughts on these remarks? Please keep it civil and engage with us about this Microsoft response below.
[source theverge.com]
Ben is a News Writer at Pure Xbox, and is passionate about action, racing and straight-up shooting in any Xbox title he can grab. When he’s not gripping an Xbox controller as though his life depends on it, Ben enjoys listening to music that’s much too old for him, watching football on television, and likely dining somewhere.