Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) has unveiled substantial updates to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, slated to take effect in the coming months. Starting in September, the pricing for all tiers of Xbox Game Pass—including Console, Ultimate, and PC—will experience an increase.
The company has also introduced a new Standard tier for Xbox Game Pass, priced at $14.99 per month. Unlike the higher tiers, the Standard tier will not offer access to day-one games but will provide a robust back catalog, akin to EA Access and Xbox Live Gold for multiplayer gaming. Notably, Xbox Cloud gaming will not be included in this tier at launch.
The Ultimate subscription, which grants access to both console and PC games, will see its monthly fee rise from $16.99 to $19.99, a hike of three dollars. Similarly, PC Game Pass subscribers will encounter a $2 increase, bringing the monthly cost up from $9.99 to $11.99.
In conjunction with these price revisions, subscription options will also be modified. New users will no longer have the option to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass for Console. Existing subscribers will retain their current plans, but new customers will need to wait until the new Standard subscription becomes available on July 10th.
Additionally, Microsoft has announced that from September 12, 2024, users will only be permitted to stack Xbox Game Pass for Console subscriptions up to a maximum of 13 months.
Furthermore, Game Pass Core, formerly known as Xbox Game Pass Core, will see its annual price increase to $74.99, although the monthly rate will remain steady at $9.99.
These pricing adjustments will take effect on September 12. However, the launch date for the Xbox Game Pass Standard tier has yet to be confirmed.
