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Xbox Game Pass is getting a new structure, with some tiers ending and others seeing price increases. The biggest change is the closure of Xbox Game Pass for Console for new users. A new basic tier for console players called "Xbox Game Pass Standard" will be launched in its place for newcomers. Current subscribers will be able to keep their existing subscription as it is.
Xbox Game Pass Standard costs $14.99/month and includes access to online gaming and Game Pass titles from Xbox's back catalog. However, there will be no access to first-party releases upon their launch, which was a key feature of the previous Game Pass for Console tier.
Xbox Game Pass Core will continue to run as an option for console players who want online multiplayer but aren't bothered by having hundreds of Game Pass titles. It will be getting an annual price increase, however, going from $59.99 to $74.99. Monthly subscribers will continue to pay $9.99 each month.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass will see price increases too. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will be priced at $19.99 per month instead of $16.99, and PC Game Pass will go from $9.99 per month to $11.99.
Two tiers will still be able to access day one releases going forward: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass. While there are no major changes to these tiers' content, both of them will be seeing a price increase.
The price increases are global, with each region being listed in a document by Microsoft, showing similar increase rates worldwide.
Microsoft is pushing most new users to the more expensive tier, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. This is hardly a surprising move, however, as the new rates will launch in September for pre-existing customers, only one month before the launch of the highly-anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the first in the hugely successful shooter franchise to come to Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft likely wanted to capitalize on the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 by increasing the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
The Xbox Summer Showcase 2024 highlighted the value of Game Pass with the announcement of several highly-anticipated first-party titles, such as Gears of War: E-Day, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, State of Decay 3, the Perfect Dark reboot, the new Fable game and more, all confirmed to be coming to Xbox Game Pass upon their launches.
The timing of the price increase, right before Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's launch, is likely a way for Microsoft to capitalize on the high fan demand for these upcoming titles.