Threads
- An insider expects the end of paid online multiplayer on Xbox from the next generation.
- The gaming giant currently charges $9.99/month for access to Game Pass Core.
- Many fans are against subscriptions for online gaming, so this would prove to be a popular move.
The next generation Xbox hardware is currently in development, and Microsoft is expected to make sweeping changes to its business. During this generation, the gaming giant has already begun to focus on Game Pass as the biggest part of its business.
Moreover, with a third-party approach and major acquisitions, the brand’s trajectory differs greatly from a few years ago. The next generation is expected to bring similar changes, and a reliable leaker predicts that one will be the removal of paid multiplayer.
Why it matters: Microsoft currently charges $9.99/month for online multiplayer access on consoles through Game Pass Core. On the other hand, Steam offers multiplayer gaming at no additional cost.
Jez Corden recently offered his expectations and predictions for the next generation of Xbox. He outlined that Microsoft would release a separate handheld and home console, but the insider also shared his thoughts on the future of paywalled multiplayer.
I’m predicting a Series X successor, a handheld, and the end of the paywall for premium multiplayer games.
-Jez Corden
It’s no secret that most people aren’t fans of having to buy a subscription for what is a basic gaming feature. These subscriptions help compensate for hardware that is often sold at a loss, but they typically cost hundreds of dollars by the end of a console’s lifespan.
This is why many gamers favor console manufacturers doing away with this practice. If Xbox were to make this decision, it would be a huge change for the gaming giant.
It’s also important to note that Xbox is the most likely to make such a move out of the three gaming giants. This is mainly because of its smaller console user base. Many of Microsoft’s gaming users are already on PC, a platform with no such limitation.
Whether Jez Corden was merely speculating or making a guess based on other knowledge remains a secret. However, we know that most people would be glad to see paid multiplayer going away.
This could even become a unique selling point for future Xbox hardware since Microsoft is currently struggling to compete against PlayStation and Nintendo.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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