Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft’s subscription service for its Xbox consoles, and Windows PCs along with other less-known and less popular platforms. Game Pass, since its launch in June 2017, and more so since the dawn of the current generation of consoles, has been the partner of the powerful Xbox Series X complemented by the less powerful but also more affordable Xbox Series S. For which Xbox Game Pass was a great addition. Now news is breaking that changes are afoot with the Xbox Game Pass. And not all of it is good. Among the notable changes are the price increase to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, and the phasing out of Game Pass Console. In this post, we detail these and other changes that Microsoft is bringing to Game Pass and what gamers need to keep an eye on in a time of increasing prices.
What is Game Pass?
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Let’s start by outlining the fundamentals. Game Pass is the main subscription service for Xbox and later Windows, which was essentially an evolution of the old Xbox Live. The idea of delivering gaming-related services, online play, and discounts/deals through a dedicated digital framework entered the next stage with the Game Pass service. That took advantage of the then-popular gaming philosophy of using the game console as a hub that works as a media and entertainment hub, and with it providing ease of access to hundreds of games in the comfort of your own home.
With Game Pass, the key selling point was the growing library of Xbox games, which included the original Xbox and Xbox 360 titles, and in time the new (then) current-gen titles Microsoft kept adding to the game catalogue. Game Pass came with four different offerings aimed towards consoles, PCs, and a combined plan. The console offerings were: Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Console for $9.99 and $10.99 per month respectively. Xbox Game Pass PC for $9.99 per month and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: that includes PCs and Consoles for $16.99 per month.
What has Changed with Game Pass?
Price increases. Game Pass Ultimate will see a price hike going from $ 16.99 to 19.99 per month. PC Game Pass is getting a price increase going from $ 9.99 to $ 11.99. Game Pass Core will see a price increase for its annual plan going from $59.99 to $74.99, whilst the monthly plans remain the same. For new users, it must be noted that the price changes will take effect from 12, September 2024. Other notable changes include the shuttering of Xbox Consoles that allowed access to the Xbox game library but without online play. This is to be replaced by a new Xbox Game Pass Standard, that will integrate multiplayer features and will be priced at $14.99. Existing users of Xbox Game Pass for consoles will be able to keep this service.
What is Happening to Microsoft Gaming?
So what is going in the minds of Microsoft executives in making these changes? The argument according to reports, is that many people are already on Game Pass Ultimate, and given the pull of subscription services TV and movies like Netflix and Prime, gaming as a service is supposed to be the way forward. Though ownership of games through dedicated purchases is still available, time will tell if it will last.
Taking a step back, this is not great news from the standpoint of the consumer. With Microsoft and Xbox these days, it is difficult to get any kind of good news from this tech giant: From studio closures, the lack of first-party games, and poor or less-than-optimal AAA releases, to now this. One can only hope that game development picks up soon, giving gamers what they (we) really want: top-quality games.
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