Microsoft Offering Xbox Live Refund Ahead of Massive Changes

Microsoft is offering refunds to Xbox Live Gold subscribers who want out of their memberships ahead of drastic changes to the service, the company revealed Wednesday.

The refund, announced in an FAQ page, comes weeks before Xbox owners who subscribe to entertainment services such as Netflix, Hulu or HBO GO will no longer need an additional $60 annual Gold membership to those services on their console. However, they’ll still need a Gold membership for most online gaming.

Once the changeover happens in June, subscribers will be able to cancel their Gold memberships and get a pro-rated refund, according to Microsoft’s FAQ page. You can make a request through Microsoft’s support website, with a cutoff date of August 31 for refund requests.

Microsoft’s Xbox Live subscription changes come as the company is locked in a sales battle with rival Sony and its PlayStation 4 console. PlayStation owners who also separately subscribe to entertainment services like Netflix have never needed to pay Sony an extra fee to use those services on their console, a major selling point in the PlayStation’s favor.