Sony and Nintendo stop billing unused game subscriptions in the UK

Microsoft halted payments for unused gaming subscriptions in the UK. The country's Competition and Markets Authority has obtained an agreement with Sony that will wind down unused accounts. If there is still no activity, Sony will remind inactive subscribers to stop taking payments. Nintendo no longer auto-renews Switch Online.

In January, Microsoft said it would cancel inactive Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass subscriptions around the world. After a full year of being inactive, it will stop payments and notify customers. Microsoft said it would give customers more information about memberships, such as auto-renewal details and refunds.

The investigation into online gaming services began in 2019. The investigation focused on the difficulty of obtaining refunds and on potentially unfair subscription terms. The core issue appears to have been addressed and you are less likely to get a bill for a service you stopped using a long time ago.