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- Xbox has confirmed that it is backtracking on the new pricing structure for The Outer Worlds 2.
- The other holiday releases will also cost $69.99 instead of going up to $80.
- The decision to revert to the older pricing was likely made to curb intense backlash and stick with current market conditions.
Besides layoffs and project cancellations, Xbox has also been criticized for increasing the price of its premium offerings to $80 since earlier this year. The change was supposed to go into effect this holiday season, but the brand seems to have changed its mind yet again.
Now, a new statement from an Xbox spokesperson confirms that the company has backtracked on the new pricing structure for the time being. In other words, The Outer Worlds 2 will now only cost $69.99, including the rest of the unannounced 2025 holiday releases.
Why it matters: Xbox backtracking to old $69 pricing for its premium offerings could be an attempt to do damage control for the gaming brand after intense backlash and other criticism surrounding layoffs.
As reported by IGN, all the full-priced holiday releases—which likely include the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 7—will now only cost $69.99.
We’re focused on bringing players incredible worlds to explore, and will keep our full priced holiday releases, including The Outer Worlds 2, at $69.99 – in line with current market conditions.
-Xbox Spokesperson.
The Outer Worlds 2 was supposed to be the first $80 game for Xbox, but it was harshly criticized by fans due to the new pricing standard, especially considering the original only cost $60 back in 2019.
Therefore, the decision to revert the pricing to match the current market conditions may convince a bigger audience to try out the game. We can also expect a positive ripple effect across the rest of the holiday releases.
Gamers who already pre-ordered The Outer Worlds 2 for $80 will also be refunded by retailers, then the game can be pre-ordered against for $69.99.
It is unclear whether the new $80 pricing has been shelved for the foreseeable future; it may inevitably return after the holiday season passes.
Do you think Xbox reverting to the old pricing standard means the upcoming holiday games will perform much better, or would it not make much of a difference? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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