Xbox Game Pass is about to get more expensive. That’s happening as part of a massive update to Microsoft’s video game subscription service, which also sees the cheaper tiers of the service renamed.
Microsoft is adding some Fortnite and Ubisoft+ bonuses to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to justify the higher price tag. Still, it’s a bummer that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has gotten so much more expensive, just like the Xbox consoles.
What price and content changes are coming to Xbox Game Pass?
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gets more expensive, while Game Pass Standard and Core get new names
There’s a lot to break down in the Game Pass changes detailed in a new Xbox Wire post, so I’ll start with the most expensive tier and work my way down. The main thing you need to know is that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is going up in price to $30 a month. Ironically, that means this Xbox subscription will cost subscribers $360 a year.
It’s also losing Xbox Cloud Gaming support as an exclusive benefit, although subscribers on this tier will get preferential server treatment. It will remain the only tier to have first and third-party games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launch into it day one, though. Microsoft is also adding a couple of more benefits to it to justify the higher price tag.
That includes the Fortnite Crew subscription, which gives players access to 1,000 V-Bucks and battle pass access in that battle royale every month. Additionally, the Ubisoft+ Classics service is being integrated into Game Pass Ultimate. Hogwarts Legacy is also getting added to the Game Pass Ultimate catalog today. Does that all sound like it’s worth $30 to you?
Next up is the Game Pass Standard tier, which is being rebranded to Game Pass Premium. It’s still going to be $15 a month, but now also supports Xbox Cloud Gaming and offers in-game bonuses for Call of Duty: Warzone, Rainbow Six Siege X, and League of Legends. It will also get first-party Xbox games within a year of their release, although Call of Duty games are exempt from that requirement.
Finally, Game Pass Core is being rebranded to Game Pass Essential. It will still cost $10 and give subscribers access to online play on consoles and a smaller library of games. Cities: Skylines Remastered, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Hades, and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide were added to its catalog of games today.
This tier will now be available on PC, also support Xbox Cloud Gaming, and offer in-game bonuses for titles like Overwatch 2, Call of Duty: Warzone, and League of Legends. That’s a lot to take in, but the most important things to note for these lower tiers are the rebrands and Xbox Cloud Gaming support.
Although Xbox is doing its best to frame all of these additions as positive for the service, I’m disappointed that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is becoming even more expensive. It’s becoming harder and harder to recommend Xbox to people, when just a couple of years ago an Xbox Series S and Game Pass subscription was a great deal.
