Microsoft Abandons $80 Game Price Tag Starting with The Outer Worlds 2
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Microsoft has reversed its controversial decision to raise first-party games to $80, confirming that titles like The Outer Worlds 2 will launch at $69.99.
The gaming industry has dodged a major price hike. According to a report by Eurogamer, Microsoft has officially walked back its controversial decision to push first-party Xbox games up to $80 USD this holiday season, confirming that upcoming major releases will stay at the $69.99 standard.
Speculation began swirling when Obsidian Entertainment updated the pricing for the upcoming sci-fi action RPG The Outer Worlds 2, dropping the tag from $79.99 back down to $69.99.
The studio leaned into its signature corporate satire for the announcement, telling fans that the Earth Directorate had successfully intervened to revise the cost. A Microsoft spokesperson later confirmed to Windows Central that the adjustment applies broadly to their holiday lineup, citing current market conditions as the driving factor behind the strategic U-turn. Xbox was initially the first major publisher to test the waters with an $80 price point earlier this year, prompting mixed industry reactions and a similar move by Nintendo for select hardware launches.
However, other major publishers largely held the line, refusing to follow the aggressive pricing strategy. For cross-platform players balancing battle passes, digital storefronts, and rising living costs, this reversal is a massive win that prevents a new baseline standard from taking root across the ecosystem.
Tags: Xbox, Gaming News, Industry Trends, The Outer Worlds 2, PC Gaming
Original article: Eurogamer