The best deal in gaming just got more expensive

·1 hr 8 min·5 clips

Microsoft is doing an amazing job of making me not want to buy anything, as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate just got a $10 price hike.

The episode opens with host Tony Palanco expressing frustration at Microsoft, specifically targeting Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's price hike. He details the new pricing: Ultimate rises to $29.99, while Core stays at $9.99 and Premium at $14.99. Panelists Manny, Rich, Carlos, Chris, and Brian join the discussion, with Rich revealing he is a current subscriber but will cancel due to the cost. The group debates Microsoft's justification, which includes adding Fortnite Crew, Ubisoft Plus Classics, and improved cloud streaming. They read from articles by Polygon and IGN, questioning the value proposition. Conversation shifts to Xbox president Sarah Bond's statement that Game Pass is profitable, which the panel doubts, citing recent layoffs and Call of Duty's impact. Former Blizzard president Mike Ibarra's salty comment about PlayStation is highlighted as a humorous aside. The second major topic is EA's acquisition by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's PIF for $55 billion, making EA a private company. Panelists worry about BioWare's future and potential cultural influences on game content. They briefly touch on Ubisoft and Tencent's new Vantage Studios, suggesting possible downsizing. Other topics include Dan Houser's lack of involvement in GTA 6, Konami's success with Silent Hill f selling a million copies, and GameStop's social media mocking of Xbox's price hike. The episode concludes with each panelist sharing what games they've been playing recently, like Ghost of Yotei and Metal Gear Solid Delta.

As heard by us

A price hike turns Xbox loyalty into a pointed conversation about value, ownership, and who still wants in.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's price hike gives The Throwdown Show a clean way into a bigger question: what happens when gaming's supposed best deal starts to feel less easy to defend?

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Press play for Xbox frustration, a cancellation page that froze under the rush, and the EA deal that sends the hosts into Saudi ownership, BioWare worries, and corporate weirdness.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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