Microsoft is shaking things up with Game Pass. They’ve updated their plans to streamline what games and features you can access across Xbox consoles, PC, and cloud gaming.
However, this comes with a hefty price increase. The top-tier Game Pass Ultimate has jumped from $20 to $30 a month. That’s a 50% rise in just over a year. Today, that $30 per month adds up to $360 a year, making it more than twice the cost of PlayStation Plus Premium, which is priced at $160 annually.
But it’s not just Game Pass pricing that’s rising. Starting this Friday, Xbox Series X/S consoles will also see a price hike in the U.S. Additionally, pre-orders for the high-end ROG Xbox Ally handheld have just opened, with the price set at a staggering $1,000. Even the PC Game Pass is increasing from $12 to $16.50 per month. It’s becoming quite costly to be an Xbox fan.
Despite the increase, Microsoft is adding value to Game Pass Ultimate. They’ve rolled out over 45 new games today, featuring popular titles from Ubisoft like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry. This addition is part of their integration of Ubisoft+ into Game Pass Ultimate, which typically costs around $16 per month.
Members can also look forward to Fortnite Crew starting November 18. This includes perks like the Fortnite battle pass and monthly V-Bucks, which normally cost $12 a month. For avid Fortnite players, that may help soften the blow from the new subscription cost.
There’s more reason to be excited. Subscribers can expect access to over 75 day-one games a year—an average of six new games each month. The Ultimate library now boasts over 400 games, thanks to EA Play integration.
In addition, Xbox Cloud Gaming is officially out of beta, providing Ultimate subscribers with a high-quality gaming experience with lower wait times. Players can even earn rewards valued up to $100 a year by gaming.
While Microsoft touts these enhancements, the significant price hike remains a sore point for many. Reports indicate that the Game Pass cancellation page is experiencing heavy traffic, suggesting a wave of frustration among gamers.
For those on the other tiers, things are changing too. The Standard plan has been upgraded to Premium, while the Game Pass Core plan now coincides with an Essential plan. Good news: these tiers won’t see price increases. Premium costs $15 a month, and Essential stays at $10.
Both Premium and Essential now incorporate PC games as well. Premium gives access to over 200 games, including recent hits like Diablo IV. Microsoft has committed to including Xbox-published games in the Premium tier within a year of their release, although this does not apply to Call of Duty.
The Essential plan now allows unlimited cloud gaming, online multiplayer, and in-game perks for select titles, along with a library of over 50 games and potential annual rewards of $25.
In summary, while Microsoft enhances Game Pass with new features and games, the sharp price increase has left many gamers weighing their options. The landscape of gaming subscriptions is changing fast, and players must now consider what value they expect from their investments.
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Game Pass, Microsoft, Xbox consoles, price increase, Ubisoft games, price increases, month
