Xbox All Access gives you the option to get your hands on either an Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X with a subscription to Game Pass Ultimate for £22.99 and £31.99 per month, respectively. But is it worth it?
Update25/04/2024, 12:14
The chance to own a brand new Xbox console and have access to more than 300 games is a temptation for most. But is it worthwhile paying for it for two years when you could get the same package for less paying for it upfront?
Enter Xbox All Access — a program that lets you bundle an Xbox console with a 24-month membership to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in one monthly payment. The exact amount depends on which console you choose.
- What do you get with Xbox All Access?
- Why should you consider Xbox All Access?
- Can you get the Xbox for less?
- What about Game Pass?
- Is Xbox All Access worth it?
What do you get with Xbox All Access?
You’ll get access to a console, either an Xbox Series S or the more powerful Xbox Series X, and both come with a monthly subscription to Game Pass Ultimate (GPU), which gives access to hundreds of games, online multiplayer and cloud gaming.
Essentially, Xbox Game Pass is a separate subscription service that includes lots of first-party Microsoft Xbox games — such as Starfield, the Fallout series, and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 — and a rotating library of third-party games that are normally available for both Xbox and Playstation.
Game Pass also includes perks like EA Play, which is a separate subscription that opens up a catalog of sports and action video games from Electronic Arts (EA) — games like the Star Wars Jedi series and EA FC24, amongst many others. The monthly cost to subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate is £12.99 per month.
Why should you consider Xbox All Access?
The benefit of not having to find £249 (Series S) or £479 (Series X) for the console to pay for it upfront will be a bonus for some, and as an added bonus you’ll pay slightly less for the console over time.
For example, the total price for an All Access Xbox Series X with a subscription to Game Pass Ultimate is £767.76, which when you take away £311.76 (24 months of GPU), comes to £436.
- Xbox Series X: £31.99/month x 24 months = £767.76 total
- Xbox Series S: £21.99/month x24 months = £527.76 total
There are no application fees, annual fees, late fees, or early repayment fees for this payment plan via Klarna in the UK. But there will be consequences if you fail to make a payment — your credit score will be negatively affected, which makes it more difficult or expensive for you to obtain credit in the future.
Can you get the Xbox for less?
Of course, paying over time isn’t an option for everyone. Those with bad credit won’t be able to do this and it will affect your credit score, as even if it is interest-free, it is still a credit agreement.
So if the only available option is to is to buy an Xbox and the Game Pass plan separately, then there are ways of getting them on a budget.
One way is waiting for the sales to get an Xbox, or find a refurbished Xbox from a credible electronics store, or failing that get a secondhand Xbox via eBay or Music Magpie.
Adding an Xbox console alert to hotukdeals will help you find a new one for less. Sometimes they get posted with damaged boxes, which makes them even cheaper.
What about Game Pass?
For the Game Pass Ultimate part of the All Access deal, you could just sign up direct from Xbox or Microsoft for £12.99 per month, or you can find other ways.
For example, you can always find cheaper downloadable keys for Game Pass Ultimate via reputable online stores like CD Keys, buy or if you know how, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and find them from other countries where the subscription is cheaper — Argentina often comes up.
Is Xbox All Access worth it?
It is all dependent on if you can afford the upfront cost of the Xbox, and if you are tech savvy enough to get the cheaper versions of Game Pass Ultimate.
Those that can do the above, then All Access might not be worth it, as you can find the separate options cheaper elsewhere.
However, for ease of access and for those able to get a credit agreement but unable to afford the upfront costs, Xbox All Access makes a lot of sense.
You will pay slightly less for the Xbox over time. And you’ll get two years of hassle-free gaming at full-price subscription.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about VPNs or finding cheaper subscriptions. For those who just want to plug in and play, this is a major factor.
For all the offers on the Xbox console and more, head over to hotukdeals, where the community of expert deal hunters is there to help save you money!