If you’re currently living in South Africa (like all of us here are) you’re no stranger to some ridiculous exchange rate changes over the past six months. Leaving politics behind, the gist of it is that we’re paying a lot more per dollar, per Euro and just about any other major currency around the world. As we investigated last week, this is not only going to heavily affect our game prices very soon, but is already taking a toll on subscriptions. Like Xbox Live.
Last night some South African subscribers started receiving an email notifying them that their monthly fee would be increasing quite drastically. The emails stated that the monthly fee will be increasing from R50 to R159, but didn’t give a clear reason as to why. Reaching out to Microsoft, Game Informer found that that reason was as obvious as you expect.
“We occasionally update pricing in a given market to provide a balance of service and value, and in some instances, meet currency fluctuations within the region, and will be adjusting the price of Xbox Live Gold subscription in a small number of markets on June 20, 2016,”
In the United States, a month of Xbox Live Gold is $9.99, which at the current exchange rate almost directly translates to R159.99. We’ve been paying the equivalent of $3.25 for years. It’s a massive jump from the previous price which was set a long, long time ago, but it again feeds into the idea that digital pricing often takes a while to change. Just like most game prices locally, which should start adjusting too.
As of June 20, 2016 the price of your 12 month Xbox Live Gold subscription will increase from R 590,00 to R 979,00 – which is R81 a month and still pretty manageable.
The price is also increasing in Austria, Israel, Sweden, Turkey and Hungary. Those prices haven’t been updated as of yet, although in the case of Austria the situation is a bit confusing. Austria, of course, uses the Euro – which has a standard price already set. Why they’re being singled out is not yet certain, and Microsoft’s reasoning makes little sense.
Regardless, it’s a tough pill to swallow for local gamers, but it’s something you can expect to permeate through to every other facet of gaming. Prices take a while to update, and it’s sometimes worse that way. Because if the exchange does improve, it takes even longer to change back.
Last Updated: May 17, 2016
Gavin Mannion
May 17, 2016 at 07:23
Wow the 10 000 local Xbox One gamers are going to be pissed…
Unfortunately the real victims will be the Xbox 360 owners who couldn’t afford to upgrade to the new generation…
BraceYourself!
May 17, 2016 at 07:40
True…the problem is that if One starts (excuse the pun), then the other will follow…PSN, brace yourself
Gavin Mannion
May 17, 2016 at 07:52
Yeah the PSN price will definitely also go up…
K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)
May 17, 2016 at 08:19
PSN already had it’s turn a year or two back.
BraceYouself
May 17, 2016 at 08:26
I hope you are right…but the rand /dollar has fallen heavily since then
Allykhat
May 17, 2016 at 08:54
PS+ did a jump a while back, it may go up a bit more but it wont be as drastic as Gold. A year of plus is already around the R700 mark
miaau
May 17, 2016 at 09:07
Is the 10 000 SA Xbox One gamers a real number or just a reflection on how poorly the console sold here?
BakedBagel
May 17, 2016 at 09:07
Its actually total users globally
kek
Gavin Mannion
May 17, 2016 at 10:15
I don’t have any figures but that’s the rumour I heard…
10k Xbox One, 90k PS4
But those figures could just be bullshit some fanboy pulled out their ass.. who knows for sure
Strawman Jim
May 17, 2016 at 12:42
10 000 brave Peter Krugers fighting against the dark horde of 90 000 strong….
miaau
May 17, 2016 at 13:50
If true, a very low number, even for something as relatively high-end as console gaming.
Food for thought.
HeniQpotter
May 17, 2016 at 07:36
Well, I’ve been watching console gaming become more expensive and a lot less enjoyable over the last year or so. This is mostly due to the total lack of local servers for multiplayer AAA titles and our weak currency. Not to mention the lack of services due to region locking. Might be a good time to dust off the PC, and put the xBOX back in its box.
Kromas untamed
May 17, 2016 at 07:42
To quote X-Com.
“Welcome back commander”
Admiral Chief Protector
May 17, 2016 at 07:42
xD
Admiral Chief Protector
May 17, 2016 at 07:46
Just in time, impending Steam sale soon!
I am Max
May 17, 2016 at 07:58
Agreed, if there was better local support, local servers and better deals then the huge price increase might be ok, but it isn’t the case.
BraceYourself!
May 17, 2016 at 07:59
sh!t flows downhill…Steam has been charging us, lets call it, introductory prices as a new region (well my opinion anyway). How long will that last before gaming as a whole is screwed?
Kromas untamed
May 17, 2016 at 07:41
Meanwhile at Steam ….
Admiral Chief Protector
May 17, 2016 at 07:41
Hehehehe
😀
K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)
May 17, 2016 at 08:18
All those Xbox twats who laughed and mocked when PSN had that local price hike can now go ahead and eat some of that delicious crow. #peace
VampyreSquirrel
May 17, 2016 at 08:26
I haven’t had a Gold subscription on my Xbox 360 since 2014
Strawman Jim
May 17, 2016 at 08:32
It just means no more xbox live subscription.
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 17, 2016 at 08:40
So now you pay the same, but get less. Interesting.
BakedBagel
May 17, 2016 at 08:41
Im so glad Steams subscription prices have remained unchanged
huehue
Andy
May 17, 2016 at 08:44
So we must pay US prices yet we don’t get the same content? No Oneguide, no Xbox Video or Music. Less Apps we can actually use in ZA. What about dedicated servers in this region…no?
miaau
May 17, 2016 at 09:08
I hold my breath. Maybe they place servers on continent of Africa now that they can afford to do so?
miaau
May 17, 2016 at 08:57
So, in other words, we must buy the 12 months upfront and not pay the monthly fee? R81 (when divided by number of months) vs R159 is a complete and utter no brainer.
Also, nice of them not to increase the price for so long. Also, crappy of them to price our service the same as the US, with some services limited.
BakedBagel
May 17, 2016 at 09:07
Its what you get for trusting MS tbh.
Price increase with 0 services added.
Fox1 - Retro
May 17, 2016 at 09:46
2 x 12 months subs at the current price will cost the same as 1 in the future.
Darren Peach
May 17, 2016 at 09:29
Eish.
Fox1 - Retro
May 17, 2016 at 09:52
Hoping EA doesn’t do the same with EA Access. That’s the better free game service on the box. If I see something good with GWG then I’ll just grab a months subscription.
K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)
May 17, 2016 at 10:34
6 free sports games per year.. woop!
Craig Lotter
May 17, 2016 at 09:57
That sucks. At this point I may as well consider selling the xbox and just shift over to PC gaming.
Raptor Rants
May 17, 2016 at 10:28
Free to play gaming is where it’s at in SA right now because that’s all the majority of are going to be able to afford.
HvR
May 17, 2016 at 10:41
With ever increasing price of toiler paper even playing free to play on my cellphone is getting too expensive.
Raptor Rants
May 17, 2016 at 12:29
this is too sad to laugh at
DrKiller
May 17, 2016 at 12:15
there is a voice thing here, please go vote
https://xbox.uservoice.com/forums/363186–new-ideas/suggestions/13873014-xbox-live-gold-increase-unjustified