Microsoft Announces Xbox Game Pass Tier Restructuring and Price Adjustments
Microsoft has announced significant changes to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, including a restructuring of its tier offerings and corresponding price adjustments. These changes, initially detailed in a post on Xbox Wire, have generated considerable discussion within the gaming community, primarily due to the substantial increase in the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
The revised structure renames the Core plan to Essential and the Standard plan to Premium. The Ultimate and PC Game Pass tiers retain their original designations. Alongside these name changes, Microsoft has implemented new pricing for several plans.
The following table summarizes the price changes for each tier:
| Game Pass Plan | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Old Name | New Name | |
| Core | Essential | $10, £7, €7 > €9 |
| Standard | Premium | $15, £11, €13 |
| Ultimate | Ultimate | $20 > $30, £15 > £23, €18 > €27 |
| PC Game Pass | PC Game Pass | $12 > $16.50, £10 > £13.50, €12 |
Note: Price changes are indicated by arrows.
The most notable change is the 50% increase in the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate across various regions. In the United States, the monthly cost increases from $20 to $30. This follows a minor price adjustment in July 2024, where Ultimate increased from $17 to $20.
Microsoft attributes these price increases to enhanced features and expanded content offerings. Notably, streaming resolution is now available at 1440p. Furthermore, Ultimate subscribers will gain access to 75 day-one game releases annually. Starting in mid-November, subscribers will also receive Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classic subscriptions. As of the announcement, subscribers can access Hogwarts Legacy and Diablo IV.
These price adjustments have taken effect for new subscribers. Existing subscribers will experience the price changes starting on November 4. The implications of these changes on subscriber retention and the overall value proposition of the Xbox Game Pass service are subjects of ongoing discussion within the gaming industry.
