Game Pass gets price increases, new ‘Standard’ tier with no day one releases

Microsoft is today increasing the price of several Game Pass subscriptions and also detailed a new Xbox Game Pass Standard plan that will launch in the coming months with no launch-day releases. The company is also ending 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 a lot to digest. Let’s start with the price increases that will apply to new subscribers starting today.

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 increasing the price of 12-month Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, but the monthly price remains the same in all markets except 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 (was $59.99)

You can find the full list of Game Pass price updates by country and currency at this documentFor existing subscribers, this new pricing structure will take effect on the next recurring billing after September 12, 2024.

Xbox Game Pass for Console is Paused for New Members

Microsoft is discontinuing the Xbox Game Pass for console plan, which currently costs $10.99/month for existing subscribers. The plan provides access to hundreds of games, including new releases on day one, but it does not include online multiplayer on console, which is now part of Xbox Game Pass Core (formerly Xbox Live Gold).

Current Xbox Game Pass for console subscribers will be able to keep their subscription as long as they have auto-renew enabled for payments. It will also be possible to redeem Xbox Game Pass for console codes, though Microsoft will begin capping the maximum extension limit to 13 months starting September 18, 2024.

Xbox Game Pass Standard will launch in the coming months with no launch day releases

In the coming months, Microsoft will launch a new Xbox Game Pass Standard plan for $14.99/month that will include the benefits of Xbox Game Pass Core 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 later date,” Microsoft explained.

Xbox Game Pass Standard will also not include the EA Play library, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Game Pass perks and quests, or discounts on games in the Game Pass library. These benefits will remain available only with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

In some ways, Xbox Game Pass Standard will be similar to EA Play, which offers access to EA games and other third-party games for $5.99 per month or $39.99 per year. However, while new EA games won’t be available on EA Play on day one, subscribers can try some of those games for 10 hours before joining the EA Play roster after a few months. It’s unfortunate that Xbox Game Pass Standard doesn’t offer similar game trials for day one releases, like the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

Overall, it was probably inevitable that Microsoft would announce another price increase for Game Pass after spending $68 billion to acquire Activision Blizzard. Even at $19.99/month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will still be one of the best gaming deals around with day-one access to new releases, as well as 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 and the inclusion of the EA Play slate.

With the upcoming Xbox Game Pass Standard subscription, Microsoft will be offering a new bundle that includes hundreds of games as well as the online multiplayer component that Xbox Game Pass for console didn’t have. However, with the latter now being removed for new subscribers, Xbox gamers who really want to play new first-party games on day one will now have to sign up for the more expensive Xbox Game Pass Ultimate plan.