The 15 Biggest Video Game Disappointments of 2024
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When something feels too good to be true, it's generally because it won't last much longer. That was largely the feeling surrounding Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass, which made the launch of the Xbox Series X/S seem like a great deal. There was this extraordinary library, including first-release Microsoft titles, that you could delve into for just ten dollars a month.

Prices have increased over the years, albeit at the same time as massive international financial problems following the Covid pandemic. In 2023 Game Pass for the console has increased to $11while the Ultimate version, which also gives you access to PC games, rose by two dollars to $16.99. Which still felt like a pretty good deal and, despite rumors that the increase coincided with Microsoft's outrageous purchase of Activision Blizzard for $69 billion, was actually an increase slightly below the rate of inflation.

But then came 2024. IIn July it was announced that Game Pass Ultimate rose from $17 to $20, a whopping 18 percent increase, and is now well above inflation. But worse – even worse – Microsoft simultaneously eliminated the cheaper $11 console tier. It was replaced by a new tier called Game Pass Standard, which no longer included day one game releases and the price was $15! Yes, a nearly 50 percent price increase for a far worse version.

That basically meant that the price of Game Pass – for anyone who wanted to use it to access the entire library and play the first Microsoft games – went from $11 to $20 per month. And this time, after the $69 billion deal with Activision Blizzard somehow fell through, the time has come really done I feel like it was a factor.

In 2024, Game Pass went from one of life's great deals to a pretty upset offering: it now costs a whopping $240 a year, with no discounted annual pricing. Which really sucks. -John Walker

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