Microsoft has insisted it’s yet to “finalize” any changes to Xbox Game Pass, after a potential leak detailed plans to drop the inclusion of new titles from day one.
Since the introduction of Game Pass, Xbox has repeatedly changed how day one game releases are included in the subscription — from the introduction of a more expensive Ultimate tier (and various pricing changes up and down for that), plus Call of Duty’s exclusion last fall.
This week, word began to spread online that day one games would be ditched from Game Pass altogether as soon as next spring, as part of upcoming moves that seem designed to improve margins, while also offering the subscription at a slightly lower and more attractive price point.
The changes were first discussed by Slayven, a moderator on video game forum ResetEra who stated previously shared accurate plans of other past Game Pass changes.
According to Slayven, Microsoft will offer two Xbox Game Pass subscriptions going forward — with and without advertising. The former will cost $12.99 a month, while the latter will cost $19.99 or $239.99 annually.
For the option without ads, this results in a small $3/month saving — though with the caveat that day one games will no longer be available. Cloud streaming and a family plan option will now be separate bolt-on costs ($5.99/month each).
There’s word of online multiplayer also being available as a separate charge, though the details here are a little unclear. In what sounds like a new form of the Xbox Game Pass Essential experience, you’ll be able to pay just for online gameplay, or with access to a game library.
In response to these details hitting the internet, Forbes reporter Paul Tassi received a statement from a Microsoft spokesperson that notably did not discount the leak as incorrect. Instead, the statement merely suggests that final decisions on any change have not yet been made, and there is nothing concrete to confirm right now. Here’s that statement in full:
“We regularly test different Game Pass offerings and look at what works best for players in different markets. We don’t have any changes to announce today or plans that have been finalized. There are no changes to previously announced games coming to Game Pass Ultimate on day one.”
Xbox boss Asha Sharma has previously discussed the potential for including advertising as a way to lower the price of services such as Game Pass, so its introduction next year is not too much of a surprise. There has also long been a sense that Microsoft has struggled to balance the books with its offer of day one games — as seen in the sky-high price that Game Pass Ultimate previously reached, as well as the subsequent decision to exclude Call of Duty instead.
Removing day one games from Game Pass would presumably make the service less of a loss leader, while encouraging far more Xbox owners to splash out on the games Microsoft has ploughed millions into making. But it would also be a huge loss to attraction of Game Pass, that would inevitably lead some fans to unsubscribe.
