Welcome to the Xbox $360 era
When Microsoft first revealed that it would be giving day-one Game Pass releases to all of its own Xbox games back in 2018, it suddenly turned the subscription service into a must-have for many fans. It was lauded as "the best deal in gaming," with memes about just how good a value Xbox Game Pass was.
But after a massive price hike this week, the top Xbox Game Pass tier is now $29.99 per month, adding up to a steep $360 a year, which is more than the $299 debut price of the Xbox Series S. It comes at a time when Microsoft is also increasing console prices and trying to convince people to buy a $1,000 Xbox Ally X handheld.
So, why are we s …