Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is getting a 50 percent hike in the US. In, India, the price increase is even steeper.
Game Pass Premium and Essential plans replace Game Pass Standard and Core tiers
Photo Credit: Microsoft
Microsoft has hiked the pricing for Xbox Game Pass yet again and announced sweeping changes to its popular game subscription service. The price of Game Pass Ultimate, the highest tier of the service, has increased 50 percent in the US, up from $19.99 to $29.99. The Xbox parent has also replaced Game Pass and Core and Standard tiers with Essential and Premium plans and that cost $9.99 and $14.99, respectively.
In a bid to make the pricier “upgraded” Xbox Game Pass Plan more lucrative to Xbox players, Microsoft is adding dozens of titles to the service and more Xbox rewards. Game Pass Ultimate members are also getting Fortnite Crew, the game's own monthly subscription program, and Ubisoft+ Classics titles.
Microsoft has also added over 45 new games to Xbox Game Pass, including Hogwarts Legacy to Game Pass Ultimate and Premium plans. The new Game Pass plans and pricing rolled out on October 1 are now live globally.
The prices and plan offerings were announced in an Xbox Wire post on Wednesday. Microsoft said Game Pass' creator participation and player engagement were at an “all-time high” and the changes were meant to offer more "flexibility, choice, and value” to subscribers. The company, however, did not address the price hike — the second in just over a year, beyond saying that the increased price reflected the the expanded catalog.
Bear in mind, Microsoft has also raised the prices of its Xbox consoles twice this year. The special edition 2TB Xbox Series X now costs more than a PS5 Pro, a much more powerful console that comes with the same amount of storage.
“Starting today, we're introducing three upgraded Game Pass plans based on how players play: Essential, Premium, and Ultimate,” Microsoft said in its announcement. “Each includes expanded game libraries, including PC titles, unlimited cloud gaming, in-game benefits (including Riot Games titles), and a revamped Rewards with Xbox experience.”
Game Pass Core and Standard members will be transitioned to Essential and Premium plans. Game Pass Ultimate members will remain on the Ultimate plan and now pay considerably more. Here's a breakdown of the new pricing and what's on offer:
Game Pass Ultimate is now $29.99 in the US, up 50 percent from its previous price of $19.99. In India, the highest tier of the subscription service now costs a whopping Rs. 1,389 a month, a 67.5 percent increase over its previous price of Rs. 829.
For that price, Ultimate members will get over 400 games playable across Xbox consoles, PC, and Cloud. They also get access to over 75 day one releases a year, including all first-party Microsoft games. The Ultimate plan also bundles EA Play and Ubisoft+ Classics, which includes a back catalog of Ubisoft games. Fortnite Crew subscription will join the plan, too, starting November. Other benefits include enhanced Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming in 1440p, Xbox rewards, and online multiplayer.
The Premium plan, which replaces the Standard plan that was introduced last year, remains at $14.99. In India, the plan costs Rs. 699 a month, up from its previous price of Rs. 619. This plan comes with over 200 games in the Game Pass library, new Xbox-published games within a year of launch, cloud gaming, Xbox rewards, and online multiplayer.
The Essential plan, which replaces Game Pass Core, gets more than 50 games, cloud gaming, Xbox rewards, and online multiplayer. Its price remains at $9.99 in the US. In India, the price of the plan is going up from Rs. 349 to Rs. 499.
PC Game Pass, which comes with a library of over 300 games, day-one launches for new and first-party games, and EA Play, now costs $16.49, up from $11.99. In India, PC Game Pass now costs Rs. 939 a month, up from Rs. 449 per month.
All Game Pass plans now feature more benefits
Photo Credit: Microsoft
Microsoft also added dozens of new games to Xbox Game Pass on October 1. Here's a full list of new games now available on the service:
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