Microsoft would rather lose some money than lose customers for the PlayStation.
The tech titan has returned to the planned price increases for its Xbox Live gaming service, after outraged gamers threatened to abandon the flagship console.
“We got confused today and you were right to let us know,” the Xbox Live Gold team at Microsoft said in a blog post late Friday. “Connecting and playing with friends is a vital part of games, and we haven’t been able to live up to the expectations of players who rely on it every day.”
Microsoft reversed course about 15 hours after announcing it plans to charge $ 59.99 for a six-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold, which is currently buying a full year of service.
The company also said it will increase the price for a month’s membership by $ 1 and increase the three-month rate by $ 5.
Peeved players have rejected plans on Twitter, with some saying they are considering jumping on the Sony PlayStation console.
Players also speculated that the price increase was meant to push people to sign up for Microsoft’s monthly Xbox Game Pass subscription service, which gives users access to a game library for $ 10 a month.
But Microsoft has said it will put the current pricing structure back on Xbox Live Gold, including a $ 59.99 one-year subscription. The company will also provide free games for Xbox Live Gold non-subscription games in the coming months, according to the blog post.
“We are turning this moment into an opportunity to bring Xbox Live more in line with how we see the player at the center of their experience,” Microsoft said in the post.