Xbox Game Pass getting big changes, ditching day one releases for basic tier
Microsoft has confirmed sweeping adjustments – together with value will increase – to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service within the run-up to October’s launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which is able to embrace the elimination of day one releases for its overhauled basic tier.
As reported by Windows Central, which says Microsoft has now confirmed the small print, the primary big Game Pass change comes with the approaching closure of the $10.99/month Xbox Game Pass for Console. While this can proceed to be out there to present members till their subscription expires (notably, from 12th September, Microsoft will solely enable customers to stack Game Pass for Console for as much as 13 months), new customers trying for a basic tier package deal might want to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Standard, which launches in September.
This prices $14.99/month and consists of Xbox Live Gold for multiplayer gaming, plus entry to Xbox’s again catalogue – however not, crucially, entry to first-party releases on day one. That means console gamers eager to play Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 through Game Pass when it launches on 25th October might want to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Ultimate, which will even stay the one Game Pass subscription tier providing entry to Xbox Cloud Gaming, is getting a value enhance too, with its month-to-month value rising from $16.99 to $19.99. Things are somewhat bit totally different on PC insofar as PC Game Pass will proceed to get day one video games, however its value can be rising – this time from $9.99/month to $11.99/month.
There’s one extra value enhance to notice: Xbox Game Pass Core (previously Xbox Live Gold) will see its annual value rise from $59.99 to $74.99, however its month-to-month value stays $9.99. Recurring billing costs for all Game Pass choices enhance from 12th September, in keeping with Windows Central.
All this follows Microsoft’s $69bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard final 12 months, and affirmation in May that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 could be a day one Game Pass launch when it launches in October. In response to stories that Microsoft was planning “changes” to Game Pass to benefit from Black Ops 6’s arrival, the corporate informed Eurogamer the sport could be “playable on Xbox and PC for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass for Console members” at launch. And that also seems to be true – albeit now with a further value, and never if you happen to’re a brand new Xbox Game Pass Standard subscriber.
