Gaming as a hobby doesn’t look like it’s getting any cheaper, with both hardware and software development prices rising. But Microsoft may have a solution to that problem: play now, worry about the bill later. A recent Xbox website code leak suggests the company could soon introduce Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) payment options through PayPal and Klarna. The discovery was made by RedPhx, the developer behind Better xCloud, an open-source tool that enhances Xbox Cloud Gaming and Remote Play features.
According to their X post, references to ‘bnplPaypal’ and ‘bnplKlarna’ were spotted in the datamined Xbox site code. The strings were accompanied by descriptions of some payment plans, including:
- “Pay in 4 interest-free, bi-weekly payments, or spread payments up to 24 months.”
- “Split your purchase into three payments, once at purchase and then every 30 days.”
This Buy Now, Pay Later feature on Xbox might also come with a slogan, “Buy what you love and pay later.”
Microsoft, PayPal, or Klarna has yet to officially announce the feature. Nevertheless, the timing is rather curious, considering the direction the gaming industry is going right now. For decades, gaming hardware has generally become cheaper, helped by lower-cost components or slimmer models. However, that trend has been reversing, exacerbated by the worldwide chip crisis, no thanks to the unstoppable hunger of AI and data centers.
Over the past two years, all major console makers have implemented significant price hikes. Xbox console prices rose by as much as 27%, Sony has repeatedly increased PS5 pricing, and Nintendo is set to raise Switch 2 prices by 11% starting September 1. Not to mention that subscription prices keep climbing, too.
Predictably, this idea was met with ridicule across social media. Absalom98 wrote on Reddit, “Hey, another way you can fall into debt!” Profchaos111 added, “I find this practice predatory and morally wrong.” Replying to the original X post, @Glas109 wrote, “If you buy games with Klarna you have worse problems than not being able to afford a game”
Whether Xbox will actually launch a Buy Now, Pay Later feature on its digital store remains to be seen. Still, from rental subscriptions to financing plans, it’s hard not to notice how the industry keeps inventing new ways to sell access to games rather than simply selling games. At this rate, the PS6 and Project Helix might as well come with their own mortgage applications.
