Skip to main content

Xbox Game Pass is getting a price hike alongside complicated tier overhaul

Characters from some of Xbox Game Pass' featured games.
Microsoft

Microsoft just announced some price hikes and tier changes for Xbox Game Pass, its video game subscription service. The changes, which go into effect on July 10, were quietly announced on Xbox’s support site before being noticed by Wario64 and Windows Central.

The most notable change is that Microsoft will no longer allow people to purchase Game Pass for Console. While existing subscriptions won’t be affected, people will have to instead opt for Xbox Game Pass Core or the new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier, which is launching “in the coming months.” Xbox Game Pass Standard will cost $15 a month and give subscribers access to online multiplayer on consoles, but won’t support cloud gaming or have immediate access to “some games available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on day one.”

Recommended Videos

More importantly for current subscribers, price hikes are coming. These take effect on July 10 for new subscribers and September 12 for existing members. Here’s the breakdown of how each tier is changing in price in the United States:

  • Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will go from $17 a month to $20 a month.
  • PC Game Pass will get a price hike from $10 a month to $12 a month.
  • A 12-month Xbox Game Pass Core subscription will go up in price from $60 to $75.

2024 is shaping up to be a big year for Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft just brought the service to Amazon Fire TVs, and it’s getting plenty of exciting day-one games this year. Next week, Capcom’s Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess will launch on Xbox Game Pass. Later this year, first-party titles such as Age of Mythology: Retold, Avowed, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will also be added to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate as day-one titles.

Microsoft seems to think this is enough to justify a price hike and some significant changes to its popular subscription service. Personally, I find these changes very confusing and wish Xbox were clearer in its messaging about all this outside of saying that “these changes will enable us to bring members more value and more great games to Game Pass.”

Tomas Franzese
As a Gaming Staff Writer at Digital Trends, Tomas Franzese reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…
3 new Xbox Game Pass games to play this weekend (October 11-13)
A screenshot from Inscryption.

We're in somewhat of a lull for Xbox Game Pass right now. While Xbox heavily marketed Metaphor: ReFantazio and launched Persona 3 Reload into its subscription service earlier in 2024, Metaphor:ReFantazio is not on Xbox Game Pass on day one. Thankfully, an all-timer of a horror indie game came to the service this past week, just in time for Halloween. Some other great RPGs also arrived during Tokyo Game Show 2024, so you can check those out on Xbox Game Pass if you're looking for something new to play on the subscription service.
Inscryption
Inscryption - Announcement Trailer (2020)

If you're looking for something spookier to play on Xbox Game Pass this month, then Inscryption is the optimal choice. This indie game became critically acclaimed upon its release in 2021 because of how it wasn't afraid to blend genres and break the fourth wall as players try to break out of a card game they're playing in a remote cabin. It's best to go into Inscryption unspoiled, so I'll just recommend you check it out via PC, One Xbox Series X/S, or Xbox Cloud Gaming with your Game Pass Ultimate subscription. It's also on PlayStation 4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.
Legend of Mana
Legend of Mana | Xbox Announce

Read more
3 new Xbox Game Pass games you should play this weekend (October 4-6)
Sifu's main character at age 70 in Sifu.

Later this month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will receive its biggest day-one release ever with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Until then, we'll have to bide the time with other recently added Xbox Game Pass games. Thankfully, multiple games came to Microsoft's subscription service during Tokyo Game Show in September and one particular highlight just landed this week. If you're looking for something to play this weekend, these are the games you should be looking for on Xbox Game Pass.
Sifu
Sifu | Sloclap | Night Club Gameplay Teaser | PS4, PS5 & PC

Sloclap's Sifu is an intense action game with intricate hand-to-hand combat that feels like it could've been pulled right out of John Wick or a classic kung fu movie. It's incredibly satisfying for that reason alone, but Sifu's most unique hook happens when players die. With each death, players get a little more powerful but age up and lose a bit of health. This gives Sifu a one-of-a-kind difficulty curve because it gets easier and more difficult in different ways with each death. With lots of content and accessibility updates under its belt at this point, you'll have a fantastic time checking out the complete version of Sifu now if you've never played it before. Sifu is available to Game Pass subscribers across PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. It's also on PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.
We Love Katamari Reroll+ Royal Reverie
We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie - Xbox Game Pass Trailer

Read more
The best games on Xbox Game Pass right now (October 2024)
Key art for Hi-Fi Rush.

 

As the Xbox Game Pass program has grown, so has our list of the best games on Xbox Game Pass. After the launch of the Xbox Series X, Microsoft has doubled down on Game Pass, and now offers well over 350 games on that console alone. To help you through option paralysis, we rounded up the top games on Microsoft's subscription platform.

Read more