Since Microsoft debuted the Xbox and rolled out companion online gaming service Xbox Live, the only thing constant has been the yearly subscription fee of $50.  Now, like all things, that bargain too must pass, as Microsoft has announced that they’re going to be raising the rates of the Xbox Live Gold service starting on November 1.  Of course, if you want to re-up for another year now, you can lock in your $50 price for another year longer or buy several years’ worth of Xbox Live subscription cards from online retailers (who have cut the price to $40).

Of course, as Xbox director of programming Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb says in his blog post on the issue, the Xbox Live service has been adding features week after week for years, all without a price increase.  Economics of getting streaming TV deals and whatnot have apparently driven MS to raise the price on their service.  While part of me says that it’s only a $10 hike, part of me wonders where the rate increases are going to stop once Microsoft learns they can raise prices without a mass exodus of users from the service.

Image:  USA Today

Tags: Major Nelson, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Gold, Microsoft, Xbox 360, Larry Hryb, subscription fees increase for Xbox Live, subscriptions, price increases, video game network

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