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Microsoft has confirmed that it will not increase its first-party game prices to $80 this holiday season. Despite rising industry costs, the company says it remains committed to a $69.99 price point for upcoming full-priced releases, including the highly anticipated The Outer Worlds 2, which was their first $80 game.
“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,” a Microsoft spokesperson said.
Refunds Available for Early Buyers
The announcement also comes with reassurance for early buyers. Refunds and reimbursements will be available for those who pre-ordered any affected titles at the higher $80 price point.
Xbox says that refund notifications will be sent from the original storefront or point of purchase, though it notes that some sellers may take a few days to process the refunds.
This move comes just a month after Microsoft announced its upcoming games would be $80, which did not sit well with the Xbox community.
Many were left wondering why a trillion-dollar company would go for such an unpopular move, but let's face it, Microsoft have been the kings of the unpopular moves in 2025, and this one is probably the one that everyone could swallow, unlike the recent studio closures and game cancellations.
Furthermore, The Outer Worlds 2, a game that Microsoft decided would spearhead their $80 push, was not seen as the premium AAA blockbuster that would justify that price.
Perhaps, if the next Forza Horizon was the game to start the trend, players would be more willing to accept the inevitable reality. But an RPG that can be completed in 25 hours? That's not going to cut it, Microsoft.
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