Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold subscribers could soon enjoy greater protection in their service. Like Netflix, Microsoft will put the brakes on automatic subscription renewals in certain cases. The new function could be a good salvation, especially for those who don’t like finance.
Xbox: More protection with a subscription
Microsoft will in the future inactive users of their Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold subscription services accommodate. Initially, this practice will only come into effect for customers in the United Kingdom, but a global rollout is already in prospect, as the company The Verge reports (source: The Verge).
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has scrutinized Microsoft’s gaming subscription plans and has made certain demands on the gaming giant, including the regular review of dormant memberships. Microsoft then agreed to a voluntary agreement (source: GOV.UK).
What does that mean in detail?
Xbox will automatically notify paying users who haven’t used their service for more than a year, with instructions on how to avoid future payments. If another year then elapses without use, Xbox will automatically cancel the subscription.
In addition, Microsoft will provide better information on auto-renewing subscriptions. This includes further details in relation to the Renewal frequency and refund options for accidentally renewed memberships.
With this decision, Xbox is following in the footsteps of Streaming provider Netflix, which already made similar changes in 2020:
With the innovations, Microsoft is making a nice move and accommodating subscribers who lose track of all their payments for certain services. The CMA is also happy with the decision and hopes that other gaming subscription providers are following suit with this practice.
Microsoft recently made waves with its upcoming acquisition of Activision Blizzard. But what does that actually mean for gamers? That explains this crisp video:
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