Microsoft hikes Xbox Game Pass prices & adds new 'Standard' tier
Microsoft has raised the price of its Xbox Game Pass subscription and added a new tier of membership called 'Standard' which offers everything except for day-one first-party launches like the upcoming Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and cloud-based gaming.
Given that the inclusion of day-one titles has long been one of Xbox Game Pass' best features (and something PlayStation Plus doesn't offer) it's interesting to see it nixed.
The new state of Xbox Game Pass
Click to enlargeOver on the Xbox support site, Microsoft has confirmed that pricing changes will begin today, July 10.
Xbox Game Pass for Console will no longer be available for new customers in favour of the new $14.99/£12.99 'Standard' tier, which offers online gaming, and access to the Xbox Game Pass library, but no day-one launches or cloud support.
If you've already got Xbox Game Pass for Console, your existing subscription will be honoured. If payment fails at any point, however, you'll need to switch to the Standard plan.
PC Game Pass will rise to $11.99/£9.99, while Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (which includes console and PC) will hit $19.99/£14.99.
Last year, Xbox's Phil Spencer noted that another price hike feels inevitable, while reports earlier this year suggested the price hike was being considered by Microsoft ahead of Call of Duty debuting on the service on day one this year.
Given Microsoft's messaging has been that subscribers can "Play Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Day One with Xbox Game Pass", the removal of day one launches from one subscription tier may lead to a change.
Responses have been mixed on the Xbox subreddit, with many yearning for a return to the Bronze, Silver, and Gold naming conventions of Xbox Live.
One user pointed out that PC Game Pass has day one releases, EA Play included, and remains $3 cheaper than the Standard membership.
Others are sceptical that Microsoft's slate of studios can produce enough big titles consistently to justify the price jump to $240 per year.
