Summary
- Xbox reversed its decision to price games at $80 USD, returning to $69.99 USD after backlash
- The change came after widespread criticism, impacting The Outer Worlds 2 and other holiday titles
- This move highlights consumer power, potentially influencing other publishers’ pricing strategies
In a significant victory for consumer advocacy, Xbox has officially reversed its controversial decision to price upcoming first-party titles at $80 USD. Following widespread backlash from the gaming community, Microsoft confirmed today that its full-priced holiday releases, including the highly anticipated The Outer Worlds 2, will now launch at $69.99 USD, aligning with current market conditions.
The initial announcement in May 2025 that Xbox’s major titles, starting with The Outer Worlds 2 would jump to an $80 price point sparked immediate and fervent criticism from players. Many argued against the price increase, especially for a game like Obsidian Entertainment’s RPG, which some felt might not justify a premium tier traditionally reserved for massive blockbusters. The move also saw Xbox following Nintendo, which had recently launched Mario Kart World at $80 USD for the Switch 2.
The swift reversal by Xbox suggests a direct response to consumer sentiment. Reports indicate that early pre-order numbers for The Outer Worlds 2 may have been lower than anticipated, signaling consumer unwillingness to embrace the new pricing model. Obsidian Entertainment even acknowledged the feedback with a humorous in-universe social media post, joking about “revising the price” after receiving “SOS via skip drone” from players.
Microsoft’s statement confirmed that those who pre-ordered The Outer Worlds 2 at $80 USD will receive refunds. This decision also impacts other major 2025 holiday releases from Xbox, which will now also adhere to the $69.99 USD standard. Earlier this year, Microsoft made the announcement to increase the prices of games for the holiday season. However, it has since backfired. In a recent statement, Microsoft said, “We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development. Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players.”
While some in the industry have pointed to rising development costs as a justification for price hikes, Microsoft’s quick backtrack underscores the power of collective player feedback in influencing corporate decisions. This development leaves the door open for other publishers, including Sony, to re-evaluate their own pricing strategies in response to strong consumer pushback.
Good news to hear. Games should not be $80 dollars. https://t.co/BFNfw9cU1o
— Freeman_san (@Freeman_Sans) July 23, 2025
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