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Bad news for Xbox Game Pass subscribers: Microsoft is increasing prices, while some subscription tiers won’t get access to new Xbox titles on launch day.
The company announced the changes in a support document after Windows Central broke news about the global price increase. Here's the gist:
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will cost $19.99 per month, an increase from $16.99 (and up from $14.99 at launch in 2019)
Xbox PC Game Pass is moving to $11.99 per month, up from $9.99 per month.
Xbox Game Pass Core will remain at $9.99 per month. But the yearly subscription fee is increasing to $79.99 per year, up from $59.99.
In addition, Microsoft is removing Game Pass for Console as a subscription option for new customers. It'll only be available for existing subscribers, who currently pay $10.99 per month. If they stop paying for it, they’ll need to pick another plan.
To replace the subscription tier, Microsoft is preparing a new plan called Xbox Game Pass Standard, which will cost $14.99 per month. Expect it to arrive in the coming months.
The other notable issue is that Xbox Game Pass Standard and Xbox Game Pass Core won’t get access to day-one releases of new games, such as Call of Duty Black Ops 6. Users on Xbox hardware will instead need to opt for a Game Pass Ultimate subscription, or already be enrolled in the Game Pass for Console plan, which is no longer available to new users.
The good news is that it looks like Xbox PC Game Pass will continue to receive access to titles on launch day, according to Microsoft.
The price changes take effect today for new subscribers. Existing subscribers can expect their monthly bill to go up starting on Sept. 12.
Microsoft argues that the changes "will enable us to bring members more value and more great games to Game Pass.” But some gamers aren’t having it. “I’m still waiting for one of these so-called ‘great games’ they keep talking about, and I’ve been waiting since roughly 2012,” wrote one Reddit user.
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