After almost a year, Microsoft is making the next adjustments to Game Pass. Not only the prices are affected, but also the structure. However, one thing is clear: it will be more expensive and more complicated across the board
If you want to take out a Game Pass subscription these days, you may have to take another look at the prices and models. This is because Microsoft announced extensive changes on Tuesday. The gist: it’s getting more expensive and more complicated.
The latter applies to all those who want to play games directly on the day of release. In future, this will require a subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – the most expensive model to date and also the most expensive in future. Previously, Microsoft charged 15 euros per month for this – however, new customers will now have to pay 18 euros per month.
A new addition to the portfolio is the Xbox Game Pass Standard, which will cost €15 but will not offer many of the benefits. For example, cloud gaming, EA Play and the Day 1 releases will no longer be available. It is unclear with what delay these games will be added to the catalog
One tariff is completely omitted
Subscribers to the Xbox Game Pass Core and the PC Game Pass will also see prices rise. In future, the former will cost just under six euros instead of five euros – the PC Game Pass price tag will now read twelve euros instead of ten euros. The Xbox Game Pass for Console will be discontinued altogether. New members will no longer be able to book this, and nothing will change for existing customers for the time being. However, as soon as the “automatic payment extension” is deactivated, the subscriber will have to choose a different tariff
Those who have not currently booked a package will be affected by the changes immediately. For existing customers, the changes will take effect from September 12 at the latest or “from the next recurring billing”. The Group has not stated why the tariffs will become more expensive. In Germany, at least, a data survey suggested that online gaming services such as PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass would suffer a drop in sales in 2023