Game Pass Undergoes Pricing Overhaul
Microsoft has unveiled major changes to the pricing and structure of its Game Pass subscription service, introducing price hikes across the board. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now costs $19.99/month, a $3 increase, and the basic console tier is being phased out. It will be replaced by a new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier, which notably will not include day-one releases like the highly anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Effective immediately, Xbox Game Pass for Console is no longer available for new subscribers. Existing members with automatic payment renewals can continue to access it, including its day-one game offerings.
The new Xbox Game Pass Standard will launch in the coming months for new and lapsed subscribers. This tier, priced at $14.99/month, will include online multiplayer but will not offer day-one releases of major Microsoft-published games such as Black Ops 6, Obsidian’s Avowed, and Bethesda’s Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. It remains unclear how long it will take for these high-profile games to become available in the back catalog of “hundreds” of games included in the Standard tier. This price point is higher than the current Game Pass for Console, which is $10.99/month.
PC Game Pass subscribers will continue to receive day-one games but with a $2/month price increase. Meanwhile, Game Pass Ultimate is now the only option for console players who want day-one releases, unless they are already on the existing Console plan. According to the sources cited by Windows Central, the data appears to indicate that the majority of subscribers are already on the ultimate tier, thus minimizing the impact of these changes.
All Game Pass tiers, except for the phasing-out Console offering, are seeing immediate price increases for new subscribers. Existing subscribers will experience these price hikes starting September 12.
Here’s a breakdown of the new Game Pass pricing:
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: Now $19.99/month, up from $16.99/month. This tier includes day-one releases, the full game catalog, online multiplayer, cloud gaming, EA Play membership, and access on both Xbox consoles and PC.
Xbox Game Pass Standard: Launching at $14.99/month, it will include online multiplayer and access to a back catalog of hundreds of games on console but will not feature day-one releases.
Xbox Game Pass Core: Still $9.99/month, but the 12-month subscription cost is increasing from $59.99 to $74.99. This tier includes online multiplayer and a small catalog of over 25 games.
PC Game Pass: Now $11.99/month, up from $9.99/month. This tier includes day-one releases and access to the full game catalog on PC.
Xbox Game Pass for Console: Remains $10.99/month for existing subscribers, but new sign-ups are no longer possible. If automatic payments are turned off and the membership lapses, users will need to choose a different plan. Codes can still be redeemed and stacked for this tier, but from September 18, the maximum extension limit will be 13 months. This tier includes day-one releases and the full game catalog for console but excludes online multiplayer.
For those outside the U.S., Microsoft has provided a full list of worldwide price changes for Game Pass.
While these changes might seem confusing, Microsoft's strategy remains clear: concentrate the value in the top Ultimate tier, encouraging the most subscribers to opt for it. By removing day-one releases from the middle console tier, Microsoft aims to make the Ultimate tier more attractive.
Combined with the price increases, it’s evident that Microsoft is looking to maximize revenue, especially with big titles like Call of Duty on Game Pass. Interestingly, day-one releases remain available on PC Game Pass, which now appears to be the most cost-effective option in the lineup.
I am definitely interested in seeing the outcome of these changes. Many fans of game pass have lauded it as the “best deal in gaming” for some time now, but as the scale slides up, you have to wonder where the tipping point might be.
