Game industry veteran and God of War creator David Jaffe has voiced his support for Xbox Game Pass, even in light of its recent price increases. In a new video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Jaffe explained why he still believes the service provides strong value for players who regularly explore new titles.
Under the video, Jaffe addressed the platform’s updated pricing model, noting that Game Pass Ultimate has risen from 20 to 30 dollars per month. Despite calling the adjustment a “pretty steep increase,” he made it clear that he will remain a subscriber. “Game Pass has obviously increased their prices across the board. Game Pass Ultimate, which is what I’ve had at 20 bucks, is now 30 bucks. We were always expecting price increases. Every subscription service goes up. It’s a pretty steep increase for sure, but I won’t be canceling,” he stated.
Jaffe further elaborated on his reasoning, emphasizing the economic practicality of Game Pass for frequent players. He compared the annual cost of Game Pass with the retail prices of individual games he has played or plans to play. “That brings a total to basically 700 dollars,” he said, adding, “Or you can pay Game Pass and you can get for the year, it’ll be 360 bucks. And that also includes all these other games you get that I would play.”
The former PlayStation developer also pointed out that while some fans value game ownership, that aspect does not affect him personally. “Yes, you would own the games, and I know that’s important to some people who watch, and I respect that. I get that. But because I don’t really care about those things, I don’t really need to own the games,” he explained. “Once I’m done with Ninja Gaiden 4, I probably will never go back to it. I don’t need it on a shelf somewhere in my home.”
Jaffe argued that for players who try multiple titles each month, Game Pass remains a “staggeringly good deal.” He stated, “The number of games I listed are like 12 games. It’s a new game every month basically, and those are the big games like AAA games or whatnot, Call of Duty, Ninja Gaiden, and what have you, every single month.” He went on to say that while the price increase “sucks,” the overall value still justifies the cost for players who are constantly exploring new releases.
The outspoken creator concluded by reaffirming his enthusiasm for the service, dismissing claims that his views are contrarian. “I continue to be a big fan, a big supporter, and it has absolutely nothing to do with me being contrarian,” he said. “It has everything to do with me going, ‘That’s a great deal, and it’s exciting. It’s fun to always tune into Game Pass and see what they’re dropping any given day.’”
