Microsoft employees aren’t happy that they’re losing free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

[Gamernyc78]

Microsoft employees aren’t happy that they’re losing free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

The perk changes start in January 2024.

www.theverge.com

Microsoft is removing the free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate benefit for most of its 238,000 employees and some aren’t happy about it. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell The Verge that the company started informing employees this week that in January 2024 the free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate benefit for permanent Microsoft employees will no longer be available.

I understand that Xbox employees will continue to keep the benefit, but the vast majority of Microsoft employees who aren’t part of Xbox / Microsoft Gaming will see the benefit disappear next year. Microsoft employees will be able to purchase a discounted 12-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscription at the company’s internal store.

Some Microsoft employees have taken to the company’s internal messaging platform to voice their objections about the benefit being removed. The employee posts even prompted Xbox chief Phil Spencer to respond, noting that he wasn’t aware of the changes and is looking into the situation.

We’ve reached out to Microsoft to comment on the Game Pass removal, but the company didn’t respond in time for publication.

The removal of the Microsoft employee benefit comes months after Xbox Game Pass saw a price hike for the first time. Microsoft moved Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $14.99 per month to $16.99, alongside price increases for the Xbox Series X console in most markets outside the US. Microsoft also launched Xbox Game Pass Core in September to replace Xbox Live Gold.

Xbox chief Phil Spencer warned more than a year ago that Xbox Game Pass growth on console had slowed down, with Microsoft choosing to focus more on PC Game Pass throughout 2023. Microsoft hasn’t provided updated Game Pass subscriber numbers for nearly two years now.

Microsoft said Xbox Game Pass had grown to 25 million subscribers in January 2022, but we haven’t had an update since then — even as Starfield, Forza Motorsport, and plenty of other games have contributed to Game Pass throughout 2023.

 

[Nimrota]

238k subscribers down the drain. How are you going to reach 30m like this Phil?

 

[Lord Mittens]

So only the Xbox division keep the perk

and what?

"The employee posts even prompted Xbox chief Phil Spencer to respond, noting that he wasn’t aware of the changes and is looking into the situation."

 

[anonpuffs]

Lots of youtubers boutta stop pushing "the best deal in gaming" line

 

[shrike0fth0rns]

Microsoft employees aren’t happy that they’re losing free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

The perk changes start in January 2024.

www.theverge.com

Gotta get kotick his money. So far this year they increased the price of games, increased the price of software, reduced Microsoft points so ppl earn less freebie sht, payed off 16000 ppl in 9 months, taken away employee perks, cut executive pay and bonuses ( who cares Fck those guys), no abk games added to gamepass this yr, regular employees got a pay freeze and only small bonuses now talking away gamepass perks to employees. Nice to see abk is working out and all these amazing pro-consumer and pro employee benefits of the abk deal. Abk will cost Microsoft over 2 billion in restructuring its over the next year I can’t wait to see how they pass that on to consumers and employees. No wonder Microsoft has record levels of employee dissatisfaction smh

https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/07/33453269/microsoft-internal-polls-leak-exposes-employee-discontent-with-culture-and-leadership-its-not-right

 

[Say1nMan]

Netflix of gaming my ass. Lol.

 

[shrike0fth0rns]

238k subscribers down the drain. How are you going to reach 30m like this Phil?

So only the Xbox division keep the perk

and what?

"The employee posts even prompted Xbox chief Phil Spencer to respond, noting that he wasn’t aware of the changes and is looking into the situation."

Phil’s a fake ass scumbag. Just like he disappeared for an entire weekend when Microsoft pushed through gold price increase. He’s never the bad guy he never knows what’s going on it’s always somebody else’s fault he just want a be friends

 

[Remember_Spinal]

They’ve been cutting cost and rolling back incentives since August. People have been oblivious because they’ve been relatively hands off with their North American customers.

Waiting for the other shoe to drop at this point

 

[Swift_Star]

What a pathetic company

 

[Alabtrosmyster]

Nobody will go on strike or quit over this.

 

[Alabtrosmyster]

They’ve been cutting cost and rolling back incentives since August. People have been oblivious because they’ve been relatively hands off with their North American customers.

Waiting for the other shoe to drop at this point

Can't wait for them to release Windows Netflix edition with monthly fees and more built-in adverts than ever before!

 

[flaccidsnake]

That is some petty fucking shit man. Bravo to Phil Spencer.

 

[Yurinka]

Seems Gamepass needs to generate extra revenue.

 

[BroodCorp]

That’s embarrassing. Imaging your friends and family knowing you get this cool perk for working at Microsoft and they just strip it out of nowhere. At least Xbox staff keep it.

 

[Alabtrosmyster]

Seems Gamepass needs to generate extra revenue.

No, I think that they should have these pop-ups to highlight gamepass games every few minutes so that you get the most out of your subscription.

 

[Yurinka]

No, I think that they should have these pop-ups to highlight gamepass games every few minutes so that you get the most out of your subscription.

And to include popups while you play the games to ask people buy the games xD

 

[Gamernyc78]

And to include popups while you play the games to ask people buy the games xD

Lol

 

[Alabtrosmyster]

And to include popups while you play the games to ask people buy the games xD

Yes, after a couple hors they know you are interested in it!

Just to remind those who said that they brought them anyway.

 

[Swift_Star]

Phil reversed it, the worshipping continues.

 

[Gamernyc78]

Phil reversed it, the worshipping continues.

Omg now it'll never end Nah but good on him fir stepping in and reversing it. I wouldnt be surprised if this was all planned lol to make him more of a savior!