In a significant move, Microsoft has announced a price hike for its popular subscription service, Xbox Game Pass. The most premium tier, known as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, will see an increase from $19.99/£14.99 to $29.99/£22.99 per month. This adjustment highlights Microsoft's strategy to enhance its offerings while ensuring gamers have access to a wide range of features and benefits.
The Xbox Game Pass Standard, which has now been rebranded as Xbox Game Pass Premium, has also experienced a price increase. The monthly cost has risen from $11.99/£9.99 to $14.99/£10.99. For budget-conscious gamers, the most affordable tier, previously known as Core and now titled Xbox Game Pass Essential, remains at $9.99/£6.99. Additionally, the PC Game Pass subscription has gone up from $11.99/£9.99 to $16.49/£13.49 per month.
According to Microsoft, this price increase is a strategic decision that accompanies an expansion of the Xbox Game Pass offering. New additions include Fortnite Crew, valued at $11.99 per month, and Ubisoft+ Classics, valued at $7.99 per month, both now part of the Ultimate library. Enhancements to Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming quality are also part of this upgrade, alongside access to more than 75 day-one releases each year, including highly anticipated titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Microsoft stated, "Our goal with Game Pass has been clear: deliver unmatched value, benefits, and a deep library of games for our players." The company emphasizes its growth in both subscriber satisfaction and creator participation, noting that player engagement in Game Pass is currently at an all-time high. Microsoft aims to provide a flexible gaming experience tailored to the diverse preferences of players, whether they enjoy new releases, discovering hidden gems, or gaming across multiple devices, including Xbox consoles, PCs, and through Xbox Cloud.
Following the announcement, some players took to social media to express their concerns, with many checking their subscriptions or considering cancellations. Reports have surfaced of difficulties when trying to access the Xbox website or app, indicating that the anticipated traffic surge may be causing technical issues.
This announcement comes on the heels of another price increase for Xbox Series X|S consoles in the United States, which saw prices rise between $20 and $70 across the hardware range. This pattern suggests that Microsoft is making significant adjustments to its pricing strategy across both subscriptions and hardware to adapt to the evolving gaming landscape.
