Gaming price sensitivity: Xbox backlash signals need for value.
Microsoft's concession on 'The Outer Worlds 2' pricing due to consumer backlash highlights a significant sentiment change regarding video game pricing. This indicates that consumers are highly sensitive to price increases, even for anticipated titles. Businesses in gaming and other sectors should reassess their pricing strategies, potentially exploring more flexible models, better communicating value, or implementing loyalty programs to justify costs and avoid alienating their customer base. Competitors can leverage this by positioning their products as better value.
Origin Reddit Post
r/technology
Microsoft concedes that 'The Outer Worlds 2' retail price was too high — Xbox says it "will keep our full priced holiday releases at $69.99," with refunds incoming | Xbox controversially rais
Posted by u/ControlCAD•07/24/2025
Top Comments
u/FourEightNineOneOne
imagine being this frightened of the world.
u/reddit_sage69
Isn't it on game pass?
u/falilth
Its going to be in gamepass, you're a fool to pre-order it.
u/thatnitai
Meanwhile donkey Kong at 80 flying off the shelves
Microsoft can't stop taking Ls
u/JjigaeBudae
He doesn't know, he's just repeating BS he heard on YT.
u/mrvalane
You are right
However, arguably the biggest driving factor is just captailism. Consumers dont make enough money because of companies like Microsoft not paying them enough, and lobbying to ke
u/peteybombay
If you are going to charge gamers this much, at least make it $69.69 or $69.420 so they can have a chuckle.
u/rloch
Seriously who has preordered this already? Raise your hand.
I say this as someone that loved the first game and can’t wait till the 2nd.
u/T-Rex_MD
Flaccid pre order numbers!
u/mrvalane
It featured a lesbian
u/Accomplished_Cut7600
For a sequel to a mediocre wokeslop ARPG than nobody cares about? No, not possible.
u/Accomplished_Cut7600
I'm not your google search.
u/WoodenHour6772
Polly want a cracker?
u/azthal
It's volontary for studios to let their games be on game pass or similar services though.
I don't have access to publishers economics. I can only assume that if they put their games on there,
u/Cressbeckler
To be honest I have no interest in buying this game at any price. I'll pay for a month of game pass, burn through it, and move on.
u/Accomplished_Cut7600
Probably just do what we've been doing: Not buying their games and then laughing at them when they cry about layoffs and studio closures. Chuds can't stop winning.
u/ClacksInTheSky
I mean, arguably, Microsoft are the bigger part of that problem.
Yeah, you can't exactly blame people for taking part in cheap access to games, but to basically gloat that you will be active
u/reddit_sage69
Honestly I meant it to be rhetorical haha. My bad. My point was that it's another reason not to pre-order it - you can just grab it off game pass.
u/Extra-Ad5925
I sense soft pre-order numbers
u/ClacksInTheSky
It's a one time payment for a certain amount of time on the service (say, $500k for 3 years, that sort of thing) and a lot of studios are owned by Microsoft and so don't get the option.
I'll
u/K__Geedorah
Not the woke!! Oh my God, what will we ever do!
u/GongTzu
My rule is max $20 for one game a month, but I can buy as many below $5 I want, and I gotta say it really brings me a lot of joy not overpaying for games now.
u/draft_final_final
You don’t even need the qualifier. Only fools preorder games.
u/crewserbattle
Ah I see, truly an egregious act
u/ClacksInTheSky
Congratulations on being part of the problem with the current market.
u/ozzAR0th
Donkey Kong is $70USD, not 80
u/mrvalane
It will be but not out for another 3 months
u/ClacksInTheSky
I agree. I'm hoping (and failing 😂) to point out the drawbacks to embracing gaming as a subscription.
u/rloch
Yup day one game pass release. That’s why I was shocked about preorders .
u/kratos90
What happens if Sony decides to try it?
u/SillyMikey
They also allow you to pre-order the “upgrade” separately so that you can get the special edition version but not buy the game since you’re gonna play it on game pass. Those were probably low
u/Extra-Ad5925
I sense soft pre-order numbers
u/kratos90
What happens if Sony decides to try it?
u/mrvalane
The current market rushes unfinished games out at that theyll fix later^tm
Cant blame people for using gamepass as a cheap way to test out games that may or may not be good
u/crewserbattle
Woke slop? What does that even mean?