Microsoft is preparing to make some big changes to Xbox Game Pass, announcing today that it will raise Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $19.99/month in the United States while introducing a new Standard tier.
Windows Central was the first to report that the pricing changes are real and are coming alongside a number of other shifts to the service beginning September 12, 2024. Here are the full list of price changes.
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – $19.99/month (up from $16.99/month previously)
- PC Game Pass – $11.99/month (previously $9.99/month)
- Xbox Game Pass Core (the subscription that only includes online multiplayer and a small selection of games) – $74.99/year from $59.99/year, but the monthly subscription will remain at $9.99/month.
Xbox has since confirmed to IGN that these numbers are accurate and that the changes apply to U.S. subscribers.
@JeffGrubb @DestinLegarie @Wario64 Just received this email. I'm in Canada.
Xbox Gamepass Ultimate is increasing for me. pic.twitter.com/emQ450o4h5
— Andrew (@DrewM987) July 9, 2024
Additionally, Xbox Game Pass for Console will soon no longer accept new users (existing subscribers can continue their plans). New subscribers will instead be funneled to a new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier priced at $14.99/month in the United States, which includes back catalog games and multiplayer functionality, but does not include day one game releases or Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Finally, Xbox will only allow its users to pre-pay for Xbox Game Pass for Console for up to 13 months going forward. Users with more months than that already paid for will not be impacted.
Notably, Xbox just raised prices on Game Pass last year, raising its "Ultimate" price from $14.99/month to $16.99/month in its first price hike since 2017. Rumors have circulated since May of this year that Xbox was pondering an additional price increase, especially given the planned addition of future Call of Duty games day-one to the service following Xbox's acquisition of Activision Blizzard last year.
The gaming arm has also been making a number of cost-cutting changes in recent months, including shutting down Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin in May, and announcing the lay-off of 1,900 staff members in January.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
