Xbox Live subscribers will see their monthly subscription increase dramatically from 20 June 2016.
The price of a 1 month Xbox Live Gold subscription will increase from R50 to R159, according to emails received by Xbox Live subscribers.
The 12 month subscription for Xbox Live Gold in South Africa will increase from R590 to R979.
The US pricing for an Xbox live Gold 12 month subscription is $59.99, which equates to R936 at the time of writing.
South Africa is not the only country affected by this massive price hike, as five other countries are also experiencing subscription cost increases – although South Africa is the most heavily affected, with a price increase of 218%.
Below is an excerpt from the email sent to South African Xbox Live Gold subscribers:
As of June 20, 2016 the price of your 1 month Xbox Live Gold subscription will increase from R 50,00 to R 159,00.
If your subscription is currently set to auto-renew before June 20, 2016, you will be charged the current price at the time of your next scheduled auto-renewal. If your subscription is currently set to auto-renew after June 20, 2016, you will be charged the new price at the time of your next scheduled auto-renewal.
More information is available on the Xbox website.
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Something interesting to note is that MS is fixing the price irrespective to value changes so people who join when the Rand is weak will pay the same as people who bought when it was strong (if they buy locally and not pay online. My XBO showed me a price of R590 but the website showed me $60).
So… If you think about it logically, we are currently paying less than people in other countries BECAUSE MS fixed the price. The Rand has fallen so much that MS HAS to charge us 40% extra and once thwy do, we will be paying the same as everyone else.
Now, when the Rand gets to R20 and R25, we will again be getting a bargain at R970 until MS raises the price again…but the down side is… What if the Rand drops to R10 or R8? We will be overcharged as hell and end up paying like R3000 for a 12 month subscription and since MS locked the price, this will continue for many months and affect many people until they drop the price one day (which they will)…
Actually, “will” is the wrong word there. I shoukd have said “would have”. R10 or R8? Holy moly, please invite me into your dream. It sounds like a good one! 😀 R25 and R30 is much more likely… 😛