Xbox has started sending out e-mails to its Game Pass members announcing another price hike, the most recent since June 2023, and a new “Standard” subscription tier. Tier changes are due to start September 12.
The new Game Pass tiers and prices are:
• Xbox Game Pass Core ($74.99/£55.99/€69.99 per year) with 25+ console games, online console multiplayer, and member deals and discounts.
• Xbox Game Pass Standard ($19.99 per month or regional equivalent) with access to hundreds of games on console, online console multiplayer, and member deals and discounts, but without Day 1 releases and EA Play.
• PC Game Pass ($11.99/£9.99/€11.99 per month) with Day 1 releases, access to hundreds of games on PC and EA Play.
• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($19.99/£14.99/€17.99 per month) with Day 1 releases, access to hundreds of games on console and PC, online console multiplayer, member deals and discounts, EA Play, cloud gaming, and free perks.
A full list of the new pricing for other regions is made available by Xbox and can be found here.
The new “Standard” tier replaces the Xbox Game Pass Console and adds online console multiplayer, although does not include Day 1 or EA Play releases. Xbox Game Pass Console will no longer accept new users, but existing subscribers can continue their plans. New subscribers to Game Pass Console will instead be converted to the Xbox Game Pass “Standard.” As of September 18, Xbox will allow its users to pre-pay for Xbox Game Pass Console for up to 13 months going forward. However, this won’t affect existing pre-payment stacks.
The price increase should come as no surprise for those following recent showcase news. Xbox is adding some heavy hitters from the Activision-Blizzard catalogue to the Game Pass, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. It is also rumored that Game Pass members may see more releases from this catalogue in the future. Eurogamer reports that the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy may be heading to Game Pass in August, with other titles like Tony Hawk 1+2 Remake and Spyro Reignited Trilogy potentially due “very soon.”
Will the new price hike and tier system put off Xbox members or will the new changes make “the best value in gaming” hard to resist? The next 12 months will answer that for us.
