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Are Gamers Finally Pushing Back Against Expensive Video Game Prices?
Microsoft made a smart business move when they listened to their customers and dropped The Outer Worlds 2 price from $80 to $70. This price cut shows something important: players are getting frustrated with higher game prices.
The gaming giant first announced they would price all their big holiday games at $80. They said this was because games cost more to make now. But fans were not happy about paying more money, especially for The Outer Worlds 2.
What Happened With The Price Change
Microsoft wanted to follow Nintendo’s lead. Nintendo started selling some games for $80 with Mario Kart World. Xbox thought they could do the same thing with their games.
But players pushed back hard. Many fans said The Outer Worlds 2 wasn’t worth $80. The first game was good but had problems like bugs and poor performance. People wondered why they should pay more for a sequel that might have the same issues.
The backlash was so strong that Microsoft changed their mind quickly. They announced the price drop just weeks after revealing the $80 price tag.
How The Refund Process Works
If you already bought the game at the higher price, you can get your money back. Here’s how it works on different platforms:
- Steam: You’ll get an email and a refund to your Steam account
- Battle.net: Your order gets cancelled and you need to buy again at the lower price
- Xbox/Windows: You pay $80 at launch but get a $10 refund after release
- PlayStation: You’ll get an email about a refund to your PlayStation wallet
Why This Price Drop Matters
This situation teaches us something important about the gaming business. When companies try to charge too much, customers can fight back by not buying. Microsoft probably saw that not many people were pre-ordering at $80, so they had to lower the price.
The price change also shows that $70 is still the sweet spot for most gamers. While game companies want to make more money, players have limits on what they’ll pay.
What’s Next For Game Prices
Microsoft says they’re keeping all their holiday games at $69.99 now. This includes The Outer Worlds 2 and other big releases. They want to stay “in line with current market conditions.”
The Outer Worlds 2 comes out on October 29, 2025. You can play it on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. It’s also available on Xbox Game Pass from day one, which gives players a cheaper way to try it.
This whole situation proves that angry customers can make companies change their minds. When Microsoft saw the negative reaction, they quickly fixed the problem. It’s a win for gamers who don’t want to pay more for their favorite hobby.
The price drop might also make other game companies think twice before raising their prices. If Microsoft couldn’t get away with $80 games, other publishers might struggle too.