Paid Microsoft subscription perks quietly infiltrate more Windows apps

There's something quietly happening to Windows apps and services: They're being assimilated into existing Microsoft subscriptions, adding value but also introducing a paid tier of content into Windows apps that have traditionally been entirely free. Clicking through Microsoft's Clipchamp video editor this week, I discovered that its ongoing pricing odyssey has evolved, again: if you've previously signed up for Microsoft 365 and have logged in, you'll receive hidden additional benefits that aren't available to other users. Microsoft also has merged its Solitaire subscription (yes, a Solitaire subscription) into Xbox Game Pass, as well. Clipchamp's updated pricing structure is indicative of how Microsoft has struggled to integrate what was once a standalone subscription premium video editing solution, but under Microsoft is just part of its Windows app suite. Last March, Clipchamp updated its pricing model to include a free tier that was actually usable, but left in place three other pricing tiers that soared up to $39 per month.