You might have heard the news already, but Xbox Game Pass has received another price increase.
Now what’s the big deal here? Streaming services and subscriptions get increases all the time, and almost every year. Well in this case, it’s one of the steepest single price increases we’ve ever seen on a service such as this.
It’s worth noting the service has also received a slight remodelling, so let’s break it down, and list all the current tiers and features.
Xbox Game Pass Essential is now A$12.95 per month (formally A$10.95 per month). This gets you basic access to online and cloud gaming, along with 50+ games available on PC and console.
Xbox Game Pass Premium is now A$17.95 per month (formally A$15.95 per month). This gets you all the aforementioned features of Essential, with a library of 200+ games available, along with Xbox-published games available within a year of their respective release dates.
PC Game Pass also sits in here at A$19.45 per month (formally A$13.95 per month). This includes those 200+ games on PC, along with EA Play and list of day one releases.
Finally, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is now a whopping A$35.95 per month (formally A$22.95 per month). This gives you everything from Premium along with the best access to 1440p Cloud Gaming, over 75 day one releases a year and a list of EA Play and Ubisoft + classics and the upcoming Fortnite Crew.
So what’s next?
I feel like I just finished telling everyone that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate was the best deal in gaming, but overnight, that just doesn’t feel like the case anymore.
Do you feel like you spend more than A$431.40 on games a year? Well then this might suit you. But to those who game casually, or simply aren’t interested in the library, it might now be time to start investing in (and owning) those few games you actually want to play.
Sure, Xbox have positioned this in such a way that still boasts significant value for money with the addition of Ubisoft + classics and Fortnite Crew, but that also just seems way too specific, to simply think everyone would benefit from it.
It’s also worth noting that Xbox is looking to introduce a free version of Cloud Gaming, that will inevitably be infused with an increasing amount of ads.
With the recent price hikes of their consoles adding to the strain, it’s clear that Xbox is clawing at some additional software revenue from the lack of hardware sales.
But with the addition of Xbox Cloud Gaming being a stronger pillar for them moving forward, it seems as though Xbox Game Pass, however applicable to players, might press on software sales a little harder. After all, they want everything you have to be an Xbox, or at least play its games.
It’s hard to say if this is it for Xbox long-term, but I don’t think they’re doing much to keep hardcore fans around, let alone the casual ones.
They’re already planning a next generation of hardware, which might feel a little closer to a traditional PC than ever before.
I guess time will tell.
