Starting September 12th, Microsoft will increase the PC Game Pass subscription fee by $2. The initial monthly subscription fee of $9.99 will now cost users $11.99. At the same time, Microsoft has also introduced a new tier called Xbox Game Pass Standard.
Microsoft cited changing market conditions as the reason for the price revision. The new changes will also affect console users. The company has introduced a new subscription tier called Xbox Game Pass Standard. According to Microsoft, this tier will offer players all the features of the Game Pass Core, including select member deals and the online console multiplayer function.
The new tier will retail for a monthly fee of $14.99. However, it will not include day-one access to first-party Microsoft releases. Users who need this feature will have to upgrade their tier to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Microsoft mentioned that Xbox Game Pass Standard will give subscribers access to hundreds of games alongside console multiplayer. The tier will be available in the next few months, and the company has promised to share more details soon.
Microsoft increases Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier subscription by $3
Microsoft hiking Xbox Game Pass prices by up to 25% https://t.co/8zjtUxUasr
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Part of the new subscription reforms will also see the subscription fees for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate increase by $3 in September. The initial retail subscription fee of $16.99 will now cost users $19.99 every month. Users who subscribe to this tier will get first-day Microsoft releases along with cloud streaming services. The Ultimate tier also has all the features present in the Xbox Game Pass Standard.
The subscription changes have been implemented ahead of major releases such as Black Ops 6, scheduled for an official debut on October 24th. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will only be available for day-one access on the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier. Those subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Standard will have to upgrade their tier or wait. It is still unclear when or if games like Black Ops will ever launch on Xbox Game Pass Standard.
Current PC Game Pass subscribers will not be affected
Current subscribers of the Game Pass for console tier will not experience any changes until their subscription expires, after which renewing it would require them to pay extra to rejoin any of the tiers.
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Microsoft also stated that they will continue to enjoy the membership as long as their subscription is set for auto-renewal. However, when a user cancels, they will no longer be able to access the tier. The Game Pass for Console tier will no longer be available for new members.
This is not the first time the company has revised tier prices and subscriptions, as it previously hiked the prices of Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions in June 2023.
Cryptopolitan reporting by Collins J. Okoth
