Xbox fans need to start planning for some changes ahead. The Xbox Game Pass prices are set to increase this year, with the new rates being rolled out gradually. Starting from July 10, new subscribers will be charged the updated prices, while current subscribers will see the increase reflected in their bills from September 12 onwards. In the US, the Game Pass Ultimate subscription will go up from $17 to $20 per month, and the annual Game Pass Core membership will rise from $60 to $75. Microsoft has provided a detailed breakdown of the price changes for different regions in a graph for easy reference.
In addition to the price hike, Microsoft is introducing a new plan called Xbox Game Pass Standard in September. This new option will offer access to Game Pass titles but without some of the perks that come with the Ultimate package, such as day one releases and Xbox Cloud Gaming. However, subscribers to the Standard plan will still enjoy benefits like online multiplayer, select store discounts, and all the features included in the Core plan. The cost of the Standard plan will be $15 per month in the US.
Furthermore, it seems like the Xbox Game Pass for Console plan is on its way out. This option will no longer be available to new customers, and existing plan holders who choose not to renew automatically will need to switch to a different plan if they wish to continue their subscription.
These changes come amidst some disappointing news for Game Pass. Microsoft recently announced that the program has 34 million subscribers, indicating a slowdown in growth with only 9 million new players added over the past two years. This figure includes Core, formerly known as Xbox Live, which offers online gameplay with minimal additional perks. The number of new subscribers is even lower when considering this rebranded plan. Moreover, Xbox’s anticipated hardware announcements in June turned out to be minor updates rather than major releases, suggesting that the platform may not be resonating with users as expected.
Overall, the Xbox Game Pass continues to offer a compelling proposition for gamers looking to access a wide variety of new titles regularly. However, the recent changes in pricing and plans may require fans to reassess their subscriptions and make adjustments to their gaming budgets accordingly. It remains to be seen how these developments will impact the future of Xbox’s subscription service and its appeal to the gaming community.
