Microsoft is raising the price of various Game Pass subscriptions today, and the company also detailed a new Xbox Game Pass Standard plan that will be launching in the coming months without day-one releases. The company is also discontinuing its existing Xbox Game Pass Console plan for new subscribers.
The company detailed these Game Pass updates in a support page (via Windows Central), and there’s quite a lot to digest. Let’s start with the price increases that will apply to new subscribers starting today
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Price increases for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Core, and PC Game Pass
Starting today, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass are now more expensive for new subscribers. Microsoft is also raising the price of 12-month Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, but the monthly price remains the same in all markets except for Argentina, India, Turkey, and South Africa.
Here is the new pricing structure for new subscribers:
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: $19.99/month (previously $16.99)
- PC Game Pass: $11.99/month (previously $9.99/month)
- Game Pass Core 12 months: $74.99 (previously $59.99)
You can find the full list of Game Pass price updates by country and currency on this document. For existing subscribers, this new pricing structure will go live on the next recurring billing charge after September 12, 2024.
Xbox Game Pass for Console is discontinued for new members
Microsoft is discontinuing the original Xbox Game Pass for Console plan, which is currently priced at $10.99/month for existing subscribers. This plan provides access to hundreds of games including new games on day one, but it doesn’t include online console multiplayer, which is now part of Xbox Game Pass Core (previously Xbox Live Gold).
Existing Xbox Game Pass for Console subscribers will be able to keep their subscription as long as they have automatic payment renewal enabled. It will also be possible to redeem Xbox Game Pass for console codes, though Microsoft will start restricting the maximum extension limit to 13 months starting on September 18, 2024
Xbox Game Pass Standard to launch in the coming months without day-one releases
In the coming months, Microsoft will launch a new Xbox Game Pass Standard plan priced at $14.99/month that will include Xbox Game Pass Core benefits and hundreds of games, though games released on day one won’t be available. “Some games available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on day one will not be immediately available with Xbox Game Pass Standard and may be added to the library at a future date,” Microsoft explained.
Xbox Game Pass Standard also won’t include the EA Play library, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Game Pass perks and quests, and discounts on games in the Game Pass library. These benefits will remain only available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
In some ways, Xbox Game Standard will be similar to EA Play, which provides access to EA games and other third-party games for $5.99 a month or $39.99 a year. However, while new EA games aren’t available on EA Play on day one, subscribers can try some of these games for up to 10 hours before they join the EA Play list after after a couple of months. It’s unfortunate that Xbox Game Pass Standard won’t have similar game trials for day-one releases such as the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Overall, it was probably inevitable that Microsoft would announce another Game Pass price increase after spending $68 billion to acquire Activision Blizzard. Even at $19.99/month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will remain one of the best deals in gaming with day-one access to new releases, plus the inclusion of PC Game Pass, EA Play, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. PC Game Pass also remains a great deal at $11.99/month with day-one access to first-party games plus the inclusion of the EA Play list.
With the upcoming Xbox Game Pass Standard tier, Microsoft will have a new plan that includes hundreds of games plus the online multiplayer component that Xbox Game Pass for Console didn’t have. However, with the latter now being discontinued for new subscribers, Xbox gamers who really want to play new first-party games on day one will now have to subscribe to the more expensive Xbox Game Pass Ultimate plan.