Usage-based Pricing Update: Transition Period extended through October 31, 2020
On April 2, 2020, we launched a new pricing model for PlayFab, shifting from MAU-based to usage-based pricing. The new pricing model was designed in response to feedback asking for more flexibility to pay for what you use instead of having one-size-fits-all pricing [Read the announcement in the blog post: Level Up with Azure PlayFab].
As part of the launch, we implemented a customer transition time in order to give you a chance to understand how the new pricing will apply to your game titles and plan appropriately. Originally, the transition time period was scheduled to end on September 30, 2020, but we have extended the transition period until October 31, 2020. On November 1, 2020 there will be an automatic conversion for all Essentials, Indie, and Pro accounts to the new usage-based pricing.
Visit your Billing Summary Page Today
If you haven’t done so already, preview the impact of moving your titles to usage-based pricing by referencing your Billing Summary page from the “My Studios and Titles” homepage by clicking on the ellipsis “…” to see your studio settings. This page will show your current titles’ usage amounts and you can use this information to help decide which plans will best fit your needs.
Dev Mode Limit Increased to 100k Players
Your feedback is important to us. Since the announcement, we have heard from many of you and have made the following modifications to support in the transition [Read the blog post here]. We increased our Development Mode user limit from 10k to 100k users so that the majority of our customers on the PlayFab Essentials plan will be able to continue developing your game for Free. We also set up a usage-based Billing Summary page so you can see your titles’ usage prior to the move to help you plan and optimize your titles.
Available in October: Pay-as-you-Go Rate Plan with no Monthly Minimum
Also based on your feedback, we are increasing the number of plans available to provide you with more options to choose a plan that best meets your needs. This will offer greater flexibility to decide how much or how little PlayFab you need based on where you are in your game’s lifecycle. While our Standard and Premium plans were built to maximize value and customer support, we will be adding a Pay-as-you-Go plan requiring no minimum monthly commitment for growing customers still testing the service. The Pay-as-you-Go plan will be available for selection in October, alongside the Standard and Premium plans, prior to the transition date of November 1, 2020.
Upgrade your Account to gain access to PlayFab Insights
When you move to a usage-based pricing plan, you will gain access to PlayFab Insights allowing you to visualize title data and change performance levels as required by your title. PlayFab Insights is a feature that is currently in public preview. Visit the PlayFab Insights Overview to learn more and to understand the features, benefits and cost.
Upgrade Your Account at Anytime.
You don’t have to wait until November 1st to Upgrade. If you find that you will benefit from a lower cost plan immediately or if you want to start using PlayFab Insights public preview, you can upgrade to a new pricing plan at any time. You can do so by clicking the "Update Pricing" button on the "My Studios and Titles homepage" or your Title's Dashboard.
Helpful Resources
You can learn more about the pricing transition on the “Updating an Account” documentation page. Here, you will also find Frequently Asked Questions about the transition. As a reminder, you can also visit the PlayFab Pricing Overview to understand our pricing meters, how to view your estimated bill and how to manage your account and title launches within Game Manager. Finally, don’t forget about our Best Practices Guide that provides tips for using and optimizing each meter and will help guide you through managing your costs.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding the pricing model update.