Recently, Microsoft Game Studios co-founder Laura Fryer severely criticized Microsoft's recent decision to adjust the price and tiers of the Xbox Game Pass subscription service in a public video, pointing out that the company has sacrificed its core advantages in pursuit of profits.
Fryer pointed out that Microsoft's leadership failed to fully grasp the overall pulse of the gaming market when making decisions, which she believed was the main challenge currently facing Xbox. "I'm not sure management truly understands what makes Xbox successful, and I'm not sure they're listening to users," she said. "Their continued insistence on certain decisions reveals that they are in an information cocoon, and it seems difficult for outside feedback to reach the core of decision-making."
Regarding Microsoft's previous promotional video claiming that "players will have more choices than ever before", Fryer responded sharply: "They are indeed right. They gave players the freedom to choose, and players did make a choice - they chose to leave."
In addition, Fryer also mentioned the price increase of Xbox Series X/S consoles in the US market. She shares the view of industry observers that the move is motivated by profits rather than in response to trade tariffs. She blamed the problems on a "submissive culture" that existed among Microsoft's top management.
"Xbox did not achieve transformation by innovating its engine," Fryer continued to emphasize in the video, "but abandoned its existing advantages and blindly pursued areas it did not yet understand... This Game Pass price increase has caused Xbox to lose its last core advantage-price performance. This wave of price adjustments is like betrayal and a manifestation of greed overpowering games."
It is worth noting that although most regions around the world have implemented the new price system, the Game Pass price adjustment plan in some regions has reportedly been suspended. What do you think about this? Do you think this price increase is reasonable? Welcome to discuss in the comment area.