American tech giant, Microsoft has increased prices of Xbox Game Pass, including the popular Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, in South Africa.
This development will increase the cost of Game Pass Ultimate from $7 to $10 per month in the country. Additionally, the price of Game Pass Core, which offers a more limited experience, will increase from $26 per year to $43 per year.
The increase occurs despite the South African rand maintaining relative stability against the euro and the dollar over the past year. For instance, in the US, the price of Game Pass Ultimate will go up by 17.7%, from $16.99 to $19.99 per month.
Despite the higher percentage increase in South Africa, the actual cost remains lower, at approximately $11 per month, given the current exchange rate of R18.20 to $1.
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Microsoft has further effected changes in the pricing for PC Game Pass in several markets, including South Africa. New subscribers to PC Game Pass will now pay R119 per month, up from the previous R79.
A one-month pass to Game Pass Core will increase from R79 to R99, while a three-month pass will rise from R199 to R249, and a six-month pass will go from R319 to R399. These changes reflect Microsoft’s broader strategy to adjust pricing across different regions and services.
