Microsoft is making more large-scale changes to Xbox Game Pass, including price increases and tier changes that includes the removal of current plans plans.
In an announcement on Wednesday, Microsoft revealed it was making changes to the available plans in names, pricing, and features. Moving forward, Xbox Game Pass will have “Essential”, “Premium”, and “Ultimate” plans. Going away are Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Standard Plans
“Today’s Game Pass Core subscribers will automatically move to Essential, Standard subscribers will transition to Premium, and Ultimate subscribers will remain in the Ultimate plan,” Microsoft said.
As far as pricing goes, Xbox Game Pass Essential and Game Pass Premium will remain at $9.99 and $14.99, respectively, per month. Game Pass Ultimate, however, is seeing a price increase of 50% from $19.99 to $29.99 per month. For those on PC Game Pass, that is going up in price from $11.99 to $16.49 per month.
Xbox Game Pass Feature Changes
One positive of the changes for everyone is that Xbox Cloud Gaming will be available in all tiers. As far as the updates to Game Pass Ultimate, Microsoft says that there will be over 75 day one games per year for subscribers as well as the addition of Ubisoft+ Classics. Fortnite Crew, usually $11.99 per month, will also be included with an Ultimate Subscription.
PC Game Pass members will also get Ubisoft+ classics access.
For Essential members, in addition to the cloud gaming access, Microsoft is expanding the library of games available to over 50 games, including PC and Cloud. Premium members get access to over 200 games with new Xbox first-party titles coming within a year of launch. Unfortunately, that excludes Call of Duty titles. Those are only available for Ultimate members.
The announced changes to Xbox Game Pass come just weeks after Microsoft revealed that it was, once again, raising the prices of its Xbox consoles. Since the Xbox Series X|S released in 2020, those systems have gone up 30-33% in price.
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Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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Microsoft needs to buy Take Two Interactive next to cover for this it would be a win win when they raise prices but add the annual sports games day 1 in game pass and gta 6 also helps when gta 6 gets delayed to 2027 get shareholders their money somehow by selling
Take two isn’t looking to sale. You can’t just buy a company because they want to. They got a be willing to sale and take two don’t need or want Microsoft. Gamepass losses money it always has and always will. Xbox buys too many studios that don’t produce profitable games because most of their revenue is split between all the other stuff on gamepass. They are going to lose more players raising prices that much. $30 a month for ultimate gtfo.