Microsoft Announces Changes to Xbox Game Pass Subscription Service
Microsoft has announced a new price hike and overhaul of its Xbox Game Pass subscription service structure and offerings, while creating a brand new tier.
The first price increase affects Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which will now cost $19.99 per month. PC Game Pass will also see a price increase from $9.99 to $11.99 per month.
The basic $9.99 Xbox Game Pass tier will be discontinued and replaced by a new $14.99 “Xbox Game Pass Standard” tier.
The new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier will no longer offer access to first-party games on day one and will not include cloud gaming. However, it will now provide multiplayer access on console, a perk previously exclusive to the Ultimate tier.
Existing Xbox Game Pass subscriptions will continue, but new users will only be able to choose between the Standard or Ultimate tiers after the changes take effect. The new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier will be rolled out in the coming months.
Unlike previous price hikes that only affected certain countries, the new prices will be global. Users can check their new regional pricing on the official website.
Starting September 18th, users will no longer be able to stack more than 13 months of Xbox Game Pass vouchers. The stacking feature will still be available for up to 13 months, but existing stacks of redeemed vouchers will not be affected.
