Xbox Game PassMSWhile Microsoft is no stranger to increasing prices in its Xbox ecosystem, most recently a severe series of hikes to its hardware, on Wednesday itdecided to push its luck with its golden goose, Xbox Game Pass.Microsoft maintains that Xbox Game Pass is profitable, and it appears the goal is to make it a lot more profitable with a stunning 50% price increase. The top tier, and most valuable with its day one console releases, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, has jumped from $20 to $30 a month in the US ...

Core Points - Spotify announced an increase in premium subscription prices for users in various regions including the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, raising the monthly cost from €10.99 to €11.99 [1] - This price adjustment follows a similar increase in the U.S. last year, where prices were also raised from $10.99 to $11.99, marking the second price hike within a year [2] - The announcement comes after a disappointing earnings report where Spotify missed revenue expectations, leading to an 11% drop in stock price; however, shares rose 5% in pre-market trading following the price hike announcement [3] Financial Impact - The price increase is expected to affect multiple markets, potentially improving revenue streams for Spotify after a recent earnings miss [1][3] - CEO Daniel Ek expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of the company but remains confident in its future ambitions, indicating a strategic move to enhance profitability [3]