Earlier this year, Xbox announced that it would be following Mario Kart World's example with $80 first-party games, starting with The Outer Worlds 2. It was an incredibly controversial move that even director Brandon Adler took issue with, who clarified that Obsidian didn't set the price, and that he wishes "everybody could play [his] game".
Hardware is likewise seeing price increases across the board, with reports that the ROG Xbox Ally might cost as much as $899.99.
As reported by Windows Central, the backlash has been so severe that Xbox has already walked back this decision. It just announced that The Outer Worlds 2 and future first-party releases will now retail at $69.99, with refunds to be issued starting today for anyone who pre-ordered the game.
"We're focused on bringing players incredible worlds to explore, and will keep our full-priced holiday releases, including The Outer Worlds 2, at $69.99 - in line with current market conditions," an Xbox spokesperson said.
There were concerns earlier this year that Borderlands 4 would likewise cost $80, continuing this trend; Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford even defended the price, saying that, "If you're a real fan, you'll make it happen". However,...
