Big changes are coming to Xbox Game Pass! The popular subscription service is getting a price increase in September, but that's not all. Microsoft is also introducing a new tier and retiring an existing one.
Is Xbox Game Pass still worth it after September’s price increase?
Microsoft is shaking things up with a price increase and a new tier for the service starting this September. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s changing.
Fans of Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s popular gaming subscription service, will see a price hike starting 12 September, 2024. But the changes go beyond just a bump in cost.
The biggest news is the disappearance of the Game Pass for Console option for new subscribers. Existing users can keep their current plan, but newcomers (from 10 July) will only be offered the new tier called “Game Pass Standard.”
This tier focuses on the back catalog of Xbox games and includes online multiplayer, but won’t offer access to day-one releases from Microsoft studios like Halo and Starfield. Nor any upcoming Fallout or Elder Scrolls titles. And it won’t include access to EA Play subscription, which is included with Ultimate (and Game Pass for Console), and no access to cloud gaming.
It seems like playing on PC might offer the best options, as you will still get Day 1 games and don’t need to pay for online access…
“Once again Xbox favours PC users over Console users. They don’t have to pay for online and still get day one games.”
hotukdeals community user Denney_Masters
Price increases for Xbox Game Pass
The price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the most comprehensive plan with all the bells and whistles, will increase to £14.99 per month. PC Game Pass will also see a price jump to £9.99 per month.
Existing Game Pass Core subscriptions (formerly known as Xbox Live Gold) will maintain their monthly price of £6.99, but see an annual price increase to £55.99.
You can find price increases across the world in this pdf from Microsoft.
Price increases in the UK, at a glance:
- Game Pass Ultimate (monthly cost) will increase from £12.99 to £14.99
- Game Pass Core (yearly cost) will increase from £49.99 to £55.99
- PC Game Pass (monthly cost) will increase from £7.99 to £9.99
Microsoft assures users that the vast majority are already on the Ultimate plan, as it offers the most value. However, for those who primarily play older titles, the price increase might make them reconsider keeping the subscription, or buying the games they want to play out right.
Any deals on Game Pass?
We’ve not been able to find any very good deals on 12 months of Game Pass Ultimate, but a few for Game Pass Core (which you can convert into GPU).
- You can get 12-month subscription of Game Pass Core from CD Keys for £35.99
- Get 3-month subscription of Game Pass Ultimate for £25.99 from CD Keys
- Alternatively, buy a three month Turkish subscription to GPU for £19.99 but know that you’ll need a VPN and a Turkish address added to your Xbox account
If you want, join in the discussion on hotukdeals — it seems that the general consensus is that people will not pay these increased prices. For any offers on Xbox Game Pass, head to hotukdeals.
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