By revamping its Game Pass subscription service, Xbox is introducing major changes that are not going unnoticed by its community. The Redmond giant is embarking on a transition that is generating a variety of reactions among loyal subscribers. Here's what you need to know about the changes, including the Game Pass Console subscription duration limitation.
Traditional Console Game Pass Phased Out
Xbox has decided to phase out the historic subscription for console players, marking the end of an era well-known to users. This decision, announced recently, has provoked mixed reactions among the community.
Until now, players could accumulate subscriptions over many years thanks to subscription cards. But as of September 18, this flexibility disappears with a new maximum limit of 13 months for subscription extensions. Microsoft explains that this is to prepare the ground for the launch of a new offer: Game Pass Standard.
This strategy is intended to prevent smart users from hoarding months to avoid future price hikes. Season tickets, which were once a way to buy in advance at a discounted rate, will no longer allow such hoarding. In other words, long-term subscriptions are becoming a thing of the past.
Standard Game Pass Launching Soon
Alongside these withdrawals, Microsoft is preparing to introduce Game Pass Standard, a new subscription plan that will replace Game Pass for Console. This move marks a clear break with the old model.
There new offerbilled at €14.99 per month, will offer full access to the game catalog and multiplayer mode. However, a notable difference is the absence of “day one” benefits. In the past, these additions allowed subscribers to access new games as soon as they were released. This removal surprised many players who considered these additions to be a major advantage of the service.
For those who want to keep this benefit, Microsoft recommends upgrading to Game Pass Ultimate. While more expensive at $17.99 per month, this premium plan still includes the “day one” additions as well as additional bonuses such as the EA Play subscription.
Game Pass Price Increase
In addition to these major transformations, Microsoft has also increased prices of all Game Pass subscription plans. The new prices, which will be applied from September 12, have already put some subscribers in a frenzy.
| Formula | Current price | New price |
|---|---|---|
| Game Pass Core | €59.99 per year | €69.99 per year |
| Game Pass PC | €9.99 per month | €11.99 per month |
| Game Pass Ultimate | €14.99 per month | €17.99 per month |
Game Pass Core, the successor to the old Xbox Live Gold, will cost €69.99 per year instead of €59.99. This formula offers players a selection of 25 games as well as access to multiplayer mode. For Game Pass PC, the monthly price goes from €9.99 to €11.99, still including the full catalog of games and access to EA Play.
The Ultimate plan, the most complete and popular, sees its price increase from €14.99 to €17.99 per month. Despite this increase, it remains the only option to enjoy all the new features from the first day.
The reasons behind these changes
Microsoft justifies these changes by its desire to rationalize and standardize its subscription offer, while integrating the benefits of the acquisition of Activision BlizzardThis acquisition has significantly enriched the Game Pass catalog with franchises iconic as Call of Duty And Diablothereby increasing the perceived value of the service.
However, this revaluation also translates into a price increase, which could disappoint part of the community. The overall goal nevertheless remains to provide a consistent and improved experience to users, by optimizing the value for money of the service.
In conclusion, Xbox is beginning a significant overhaul of its Game Pass service. Limiting subscriptions to 13 months, introducing Game Pass Standard without “day one” additions, and increasing the prices of the different plans are steps in a strategy aimed at adapting to new market realities and players’ consumption habits.