While companies love subscription-based services, more and more users realize that they are more often than not that beneficial.
Microsoft just announced another price increase for Game Pass, the last dating back just a year. Game Pass Ultimate jumps from $20 to $30 per month once the changes go life. Considering that Game Pass Ultimate cost just $17 in early 2024, it is a massive increase of the most expensive plan.
Furthermore, Microsoft is changing the other Game Pass plans. Game Pass Core subscribers are moved to Game Pass Essential, the lowest tier and Game Pass Standard subscribers are moved to Game Pass Essential. The price of the two plans remains at $10 and $15 per month, for now at last.
Microsoft justifies the price increase by pushing “more day one games than ever before” to Game Pass Ultimate. There is also Fortnite Crew & Ubisoft+ Classics that Ultimate subscribers get access to for the very first time.
Additionally, they get “enhanced Xbox cloud gaming streaming quality up to 1440p, rewards with Xbox, and more” according to the announcement.
It appears that the announcement has pushed subscribers into cancelling their subscriptions. The servers are not responsive at the time and while Microsoft has yet to announce anything regarding the servers, it is clear that some subscribers are not happy about the price increase.
It is quite possible that the inclusion of Ubisoft+ Classics, which Microsoft values at $8 per month, is a reason for the major price increase.
However, at $360 per year, Game Pass Ultimate is not the bargain subscription service that it started out as. With an average price of $60 per game, ex-Ultimate subscribers could purchase six major games per year and own them.
That means the option to resell them or play them whenever they feel like it on as many systems as they like.
Granted, the price may still be worth it for die-hard Xbox and Microsoft fans who want access to games that Microsoft’s gaming division releases throughout the year. For many subscribers, however, it seems that Game Pass has lost its appeal thanks to the recent price hike, and the one that is likely coming next year.
I’m sure this is all going exactly as M.$ planned from the beginning.
As long as people continue to fall for the same scams over and over someone will exploit them.
I think buying Indy and AA games has been a cheaper option for a while.
Some of the best gaming experiences that I had in the past five or so years were from indy games. Agree, cheaper, and with a lot of heart poured into the game. Something that most AAA games are missing.