Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers are being notified that their ‘Ultimate’ tier subscription will be increasing starting in September. To coincide with the price increase, Xbox is restructuring its tiers, adding a new option.
Microsoft began alerting subscribers of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on July 9th. In Canada, the email states that on September 12th, the monthly price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will increase from $18.99 to $22.99. The email continues to make reference to ‘Xbox Game Pass Standard,’ a new tier option for players.
“We are planning to update our prices to address changing market conditions,” Microsoft says in its email to Xbox Game Pass subscribers. “This price change allows us to continue to bring you more value and great games for the very best gaming experience.”
Xbox Game Pass Standard is being launched in September as well. It’s confirmed that the tier will arrive at $14.99 USD (roughly $20.44 CAD as no official pricing is confirmed for Canada). The official support page states that Xbox Game Pass Standard will include access to “hundreds of Game Pass titles,” but does not elaborate further.
However, Windows Central reports that Xbox Game Pass Standard will not offer first-party day-one titles launching on Xbox nor cloud gaming access. Instead, the cheaper model supports online multiplayer, a back catalogue of Xbox Game Pass games with first-party titles added “at a future date.”
Moreover, Microsoft is making changes to other Xbox Game Pass tiers. For instance, Xbox Game Pass for Console (the standard tier for Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles) will no longer be available for new subscribers starting today. Those currently subscribed maintain their membership as long as automatic renewals are enabled. With this option removed for new players, Xbox Game Pass Standard will become the default option on the console. Unlike the new tier, Xbox Game Pass for Console does include day-one access to new Xbox games.
Other changes include a price increase for PC Game Pass. This tier is jumping up to $14.99/month from $11.99/month. Finally, Xbox Game Pass Core’s annual subscription is increasing from $69.99 to $87.99.
A substantial price increase to Xbox Game Pass almost felt inevitable following the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The demand to increase subscription prices was emphasized following the confirmation that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will arrive on Game Pass later this year on October 24th. The billion-dollar franchise will be a tantalizing inclusion for Xbox Game Pass members. However, its inclusion meant the scales must be balanced. This year, Xbox Game Pass will also see the arrival of Avowed, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Age of Mythology Retold, and more.
How to save? You can buy a your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from a site like CDKeys which is offering 3-months at $46.19 CAD right now.
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