Xbox Game Pass Price Hike and New Tier Unveiled

Microsoft has revealed price adjustments for its Xbox Game Pass subscription service and launched a new tier excluding "Day One" game releases. Discover the details and Xbox's vision for Game Pass below.

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Microsoft Increases Xbox Game Pass Subscription Costs

Game Pass Price Adjustments and New Tier Introduced

Effective July 10 for New Members, September 12 for Current Subscribers

Xbox has raised prices for its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, as detailed in a recent update on the company's support page. The changes affect Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Core subscriptions.

Here are the updated pricing details:

　⚫︎　Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: This premium plan, offering PC Game Pass, Day One titles, a vast game library, online multiplayer, and cloud gaming, will rise from $16.99 to $19.99 per month.

　⚫︎　PC Game Pass: The monthly cost for this tier will increase from $9.99 to $11.99, maintaining benefits like Day One releases, member discounts, a PC game catalog, and EA Play access.

　⚫︎　Game Pass Core: The annual price will jump from $59.99 to $74.99, while the monthly rate remains $9.99.

　⚫︎　As of July 10, 2024, Xbox Game Pass for Console will no longer be available to new subscribers.

These global price changes take effect for new subscribers to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass Core, and PC Game Pass starting July 10, 2024. Existing members will see the changes applied from September 12, 2024. If your current subscription lapses, you’ll need to select from the updated plans, with new prices reflected in the next billing cycle after September 12.

Current Game Pass for Console subscribers can maintain their membership, including access to Day One titles, as long as their subscription remains active. If it lapses, access to Game Pass for Console will end, requiring a switch to another available plan.

Xbox confirmed that Game Pass for Console codes remain redeemable for now. "As of September 18, 2024, the maximum extension for Game Pass for Console will be capped at 13 months," the company noted. "This won’t affect existing stacked time beyond 13 months but will limit future extensions past that date."

Xbox Game Pass Standard Tier Launching Soon

Microsoft introduced Xbox Game Pass Standard, a new tier priced at $14.99 per month. This plan offers access to a back catalog of games and online multiplayer but excludes Day One releases and cloud gaming. Day One titles are new games available to play on their release date within the Game Pass library.

The Standard tier includes a wide range of games, online console multiplayer, and select member discounts, though some titles exclusive to Game Pass for Console may not be available.

Xbox plans to share further details, including release dates and availability for Xbox Game Pass Standard, in the near future.

"Game Pass was created to give players more ways to discover and enjoy games," Microsoft explained regarding the updates. "This includes offering varied pricing and plans to suit different player needs."

Xbox Leadership on Game Pass Investments

Last December, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer shared, "Our investments in Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming, cross-play, cross-save, and ID@Xbox are about innovating for our console players, ensuring we match the commitment they show us."

At the Wells Fargo TMT Summit 2023, Xbox CFO Tim Stuart noted that Xbox Game Pass, alongside first-party titles and advertising, is a high-margin business for Microsoft, fueling its growth in these areas.

No Xbox Console Needed to Enjoy Xbox Games

Xbox recently released a new ad highlighting the availability of Xbox Game Pass on Amazon Fire Sticks, a streaming device that transforms standard TVs into smart TVs for gaming. The campaign emphasizes that no Xbox console is required to play Xbox games.

With an Amazon Fire TV Stick and a Game Pass Ultimate subscription, players can access hundreds of titles, including Forza Motorsport, Starfield, and Palworld.

As Xbox pushes to expand its gaming subscription service, CEO Phil Spencer emphasized plans to bring bigger titles to Game Pass. In a prior interview, he highlighted Xbox’s mission to offer players the freedom to play their preferred games anywhere. "Our goal is choice," Spencer said, noting that Xbox’s success lies in more people playing across consoles, PCs, the cloud, or even other platforms.

Xbox Remains Committed to Physical Consoles

Earlier this year, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella addressed concerns about moving away from hardware, confirming Xbox’s commitment to its console business and potential for further hardware growth.

In February, Xbox affirmed it would continue producing physical game copies as long as demand persists. That same month, Spencer reassured employees during an internal town hall that Xbox has no plans to stop manufacturing consoles.

In a recent interview, Spencer noted that gaming consoles are among the last consumer electronics with physical drives, calling it a "real issue" due to limited drive manufacturers and associated costs.

However, he clarified that Xbox’s strategy doesn’t rely on going fully digital. "Eliminating physical media isn’t a strategic focus for us," Spencer affirmed.