Xbox Game Pass Continues Push to Be Everywhere While Also Pushing Prices Up

Xbox Game Pass Price Hikes and New Tier Announced: Expanding Reach, Increasing Costs

Microsoft has announced price increases for its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, alongside a new tier omitting "Day One" game releases. This article details the changes and explores Xbox's broader Game Pass strategy.

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Xbox Game Pass Price Increases Explained

Price Adjustments and New Tier

Effective July 10, 2024 (new subscribers) and September 12, 2024 (existing subscribers), Xbox Game Pass pricing changes globally:

• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: Increases from $16.99 to $19.99 per month. Includes PC Game Pass, Day One games, back catalog, online play, and cloud gaming.
• PC Game Pass: Increases from $9.99 to $11.99 per month. Retains Day One releases, member discounts, PC game catalog, and EA Play.
• Game Pass Core: Annual price increases from $59.99 to $74.99 ($9.99 monthly).
• Game Pass for Console: Discontinued for new subscribers starting July 10, 2024. Existing subscribers retain access unless their subscription lapses. After September 18, 2024, the maximum stackable time for Game Pass for Console codes will be 13 months.

Xbox Game Pass Standard: A New Option

Microsoft introduced Xbox Game Pass Standard, priced at $14.99 per month. This tier offers a back catalog of games and online play but excludes Day One games and cloud gaming. Further details on release dates and game availability will be announced soon.

Xbox's Expanding Strategy

Microsoft emphasizes providing player choice through varied pricing and plans. Previous comments from Xbox CEO Phil Spencer and CFO Tim Stuart highlight investments in Game Pass, cloud gaming, and first-party titles as high-margin ventures driving Microsoft's growth.

Beyond the Xbox Console

Xbox's recent marketing campaign, including Game Pass's launch on Amazon Fire Sticks, underscores its commitment to expanding accessibility beyond Xbox consoles. Spencer's vision emphasizes offering diverse gaming options across platforms.

Physical Media Remains

Despite its digital push, Microsoft assures continued support for physical game releases and console manufacturing, addressing concerns about a potential all-digital shift. The company acknowledges challenges related to manufacturing costs of consoles with built-in disc drives.