Xbox Announces Price Increase for Game Pass, Introduces New Standard Option

Xbox has recently announced a price increase for its popular Game Pass subscription service. Following the acquisitions of Bethesda and Activision-Blizzard, along with an impressive showcase of forthcoming blockbuster games, Xbox has deemed it necessary to adjust the prices for Game Pass across the board.

Starting from tomorrow, July 10th, new members will experience the revised prices for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass Core, and PC Game Pass. However, existing members will not be affected until September 12th, 2024, when recurring charges will be adjusted. It is important to note that select countries are exempted from this price update.

Game Pass for Console will no longer be available for new members. However, existing members who are subscribed to Xbox Game Pass for Console with automatic payment renewal enabled can continue enjoying their membership without interruption. They can expect to receive a message from Xbox with further details regarding their membership.

If automatic payment renewal is turned off and membership lapses, access to Game Pass for Console will be lost. In such cases, members will need to explore other plans offered by Game Pass in order to continue enjoying the gaming service.

Xbox Game Pass for Console codes can still be redeemed until further notice. However, as of September 18th, 2024, the maximum limit for extending Game Pass for Console will be capped at 13 months. This change will not affect any existing stacked time on accounts that exceeds 13 months, but it will impact the ability to stack more than 13 months in the future.

In addition to the price changes, Xbox will be introducing a new Game Pass option called Xbox Game Pass Standard. This option will be available worldwide in the coming months for $14.99 USD (pricing may vary by market). The aim of introducing this new option is to provide players with more choice in how they discover and play games.

For further discussions and insights on the price changes, Xbox encourages gamers to tune in to this week’s Bitcast.

Facts not mentioned in the article:

1. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes access to Game Pass for Console, Game Pass for PC, and Xbox Live Gold.
2. Xbox Game Pass Core includes access to Game Pass for Console and Xbox Live Gold.
3. PC Game Pass is specifically for PC gamers and does not include access to Game Pass for Console or Xbox Live Gold.
4. The price increase is attributed to the acquisitions of Bethesda and Activision-Blizzard, which added a significant number of popular games to the Xbox Game Pass library.
5. Xbox Game Pass offers a wide variety of games, including both first-party and third-party titles, giving players a large selection to choose from.

Most important questions and answers:

1. When will the price increase go into effect for existing members?
– Existing members will not be affected until September 12th, 2024, when recurring charges will be adjusted.

2. Will select countries be exempted from the price update?
– Yes, select countries will be exempted from the price update. The article does not specify which countries are exempt.

Key challenges or controversies:

1. The price increase may be seen as a disadvantage for some players, especially those who have been enjoying the service at the previous price point.

2. The introduction of a new Game Pass option may lead to confusion among players who now have to decide between different tiers and pricing options.

Advantages:

1. The price increase could potentially lead to more investment in the Game Pass service, resulting in the addition of more high-quality games to the library.

2. The new Game Pass options provide players with more choice and flexibility in terms of their subscription and gaming preferences.