Microsoft is set to increase the price of its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in September, raising it to $19.99 a month beginning on September 12th. This hike comes alongside the launch of a new “standard” subscription that will not include day-one access to first-party Xbox games. Existing subscribers have been informed via email of the upcoming change, with PC Game Pass subscribers also facing a price increase to $11.99 per month, maintaining access to day-one titles.
The price increase precedes Microsoft’s plans to add big titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 to the Game Pass service later this year. This move will mainly affect Ultimate subscribers, who form the majority of Game Pass users. The last price increase occurred over a year ago, with rates rising by $1-$2 per month. The introduction of the new Xbox Game Pass Standard subscription priced at $14.99 per month offers new users an option without day-one titles, with existing console subscribers able to stack for up to 13 months starting September 18th.
The addition of an online console multiplayer access option to the new standard subscription fills a gap previously lacking in the Xbox Game Pass for Console offering. Microsoft’s decision to increase prices aligns with their strategy to incorporate the Call of Duty series into Game Pass, helping to balance out the cost of including such popular titles. Overall, these changes reflect Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to provide a variety of subscription options to cater to the diverse preferences of gamers.
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