Microsoft drops Xbox first-party game prices from $80 to $70 after backlash

[midian182]

What just happened? It seems that for once, a tech giant is listening to what people want – though it's probably not for altruistic reasons. Microsoft is reversing its previous decision to make $80 the standard price for first-party Xbox games. It means that The Outer Worlds 2, which was set to be the first of these titles to carry that price tag, now costs $70.

A few weeks ago, Microsoft managed to anger gamers everywhere by announcing that in addition to Xbox hardware becoming more expensive, first-party games across all platforms would jump to $80. In June, it was confirmed that FPS/RPG The Outer Worlds 2 would be the first of these titles to be priced this high.

But it seems the backlash proved too strong – the first game had been getting review bombed on Steam because of its sequel's price. Now, likely due to concerns that people will boycott these games, Microsoft is dropping the $80 standard price and reverting to $70.

Obsidian has already confirmed that The Outer Worlds 2 has had a price reduction. "We have received your SOS via skip drone about the pricing," it wrote in a post. "As an organisation devoted to making sure that corporations do not go unfettered, we at the Earth Directorate have worked with [REDACTED] to revise the price of The Outer Worlds 2."

Dear Galactic Citizens! We have received your SOS via skip drone about the pricing. As an organization devoted to making sure that corporations do not go unfettered, we at the Earth Directorate have worked with [REDACTED] to revise the price of The Outer Worlds 2.

[image or embed]

– Obsidian (@obsidian.net) 23 July 2025 at 15:02

Obsidian told Windows Central that anyone who pre-ordered The Outer Worlds 2 at its previous $80 price will be refunded. Rather than handing back $10, buyers will be refunded the full amount and need to pre-order the game again at its new $70 price.

An Xbox spokesperson confirmed that all full-priced holiday releases will cost $70, "in line with current market conditions." Microsoft also confirmed to Windows Central that the Outer Worlds 2's price drop will come to regions outside of the US, including the UK and EU, though it might take a few days to roll out.

It's not just Microsoft pushing up the standard cost of AAA games. Nintendo got there first when it announced that every first-party Switch 2 game would cost $70 or $80 – Mario Kart World falls into the latter category.

This isn't the first time a company has backed down from an $80 price point. Borderlands 4 was widely expected to cost this much, something that Randy Pitchford, CEO and president of Gearbox's parent company, seemed to suggest would happen. But pre-orders opened last month with a $70 price for the base game.

The Outer Worlds 2 releases on October 28 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

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Microsoft drops Xbox first-party game prices from $80 to $70 after backlash

 

[m4a4]

Good. Now if only gamers could actually put pressure on Nintendo to do something similar...

 

[gigantor21]

Good. Now if only gamers could actually put pressure on Nintendo to do something similar...

After what happened with Tears of the Kingdom, I doubt it.

 

[DrSuess]

It will be available on Gamepass day 1 that is how I played the 1st one and that is how I will pay the 2nd one.

 

[winjer]

Pre-order numbers must be terrible and Microsoft got desperate and backtracked to a lower price.

 

[mikus]

I grew up with console gaming from the 70's, but when games moved beyond $50, I took a fundamental shift and committed to only buying used games for no more than $25 each. Since games have gone to $70 and now $80, I've stopped buying consoles all together, just to make a point.

I buy far more Steam games now that Linux is supported, rarely pay more than $10 a game for little bullet hell games I enjoy and have hundreds of hours in some of them, while AAA studios like Ubisoft and EA put of drivel and dare demand $80 for their atrocities in gaming.

I hope every game company feels the backlash and people finally decide it's time to stop the buying into the madness.

 

[airbornex]

Incredible how quickly corporations develop empathy when their bottom line starts to sweat. Nothing like a good old-fashioned review bombing to remind them who actually buys the games.

 

[mcnabney]

Outer Worlds is the poster child for games that people will only ever play once. Best to rent on Gamepass than buy and never run again.

 

[NotYourITguy]

Pre-order numbers must be terrible and Microsoft got desperate and backtracked to a lower price.

It's ironically the people who do pre-order who complain the loudest. Waiting 6 months after a launch should be standard procedure to make sure it's actually a completed game that works.

 

[p51d007]

Shoot, wouldn't surprise me MS WANTED 70 bucks for the game, but knew people would complain, so they upped it to 80 buck, then the people complained, and they lowered it to where they wanted. <wink>

 

[toooooot]

Is it really just a backlash? The industry is shaky in general. Some franchises can probably afford going 80 or even more without losing customers. Fifa is definitely one of them. A legalized, minor approved gambling sim always sells because it is about #1 sport in the world.
But a lot of studios will not get more money by raising the price. And this game seems
like one of those games. Their Steam trailer is hilarious, go watch it. But it is not cod or fifa.
Most of these studios will gain nothing from raising the prices. And in a different economy, economy not ruined by Wuhan released virus, they could do it. But this is not that reality.

 

[mountains]

Users have power when they choose to unite and use that power. Users shouldn't even pay $70.

Keep pushing...!