Microsoft has announced a major shakeup of Xbox Game Pass, bringing more games to players across its four versions, including the addition of Ubisoft+ to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, but with the top tier getting a staggering, frankly ridiculous 50% price increase because of this.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has long been the go-to tier for Game Pass, giving access to a library of games, Day One access to a bunch of new releases (including all first party games), cloud game streaming, and online console multiplayer. Now, Microsoft is guaranteeing at least 75 day one games will be added each year, and the addition of Ubisoft+ Classic and Fortnite Crew.
The price of Game Pass Ultimate has crept up in the last few years, and has stood at $19.99 and ÂŁ14.99 per month since last summer. Now, though, the price is going up by 50% to $29.99 and ÂŁ22.99 per month.
That’s justified by the Fortnite Crew addition, which is valued at $12 a month as it gives you the Fortnite Battle Pass and 1000 V Bucks each month, and the Ubisoft+ Classics library, which is valued at $8 per month. It’s starting to sound a bit like cable TV or Sky Sports, where you pay through the nose for a huge package of channels, even if you only really want the one thing.
This now puts a massive premium on Game Pass Ultimate and, while there’s additions and more promises, it feels like Microsoft is readjusting the business model in a way to compensate for “lost” revenue from first party game sales. If you see no value from Fortnite Crew or Ubisoft+, then this is just a huge price increase.
The other way to get day one games, in a more limited fashion, is with PC Game Pass. This is only usable with Windows PC – and with the upcoming Ally X handheld – and is going up from $11.99 / £9.99 to $16.49  / £13.49. The only change here is the addition of Ubisoft+, getting it for $4.50 / £3.50.
Game Pass Standard has now been rebranded as Game Pass Premium, thankfully holding onto the same $14.99 / £10.99 price point. This is actually just becoming a better deal, as while you don’t have day one games, you will get Xbox published games added within a year of launch, and there is now priority cloud gaming for the Game Pass Premium library and for select games that you own.
The runt of the litter remains Game Pass Essential, which replaced Xbox Live Gold a good while ago. Sticking with $9.99 / £6.99 per month (and I believe still with a 12 month purchase possible) this is required for online gaming, and includes a much smaller selection of games. That’s been doubled now, from 25+ to 50+ games, and you can now access cloud gaming.
All of this comes down to how you use Game Pass to consume games. Do you like the additions to Game Pass Ultimate, or would you be reconsidering your subscription at this price point?
Source: Xbox
This is an interesting update for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate! The addition of Ubisoft+ Classics and Fortnite Crew sounds promising, and it’ll be intriguing to see how the price increase affects subscribers. Change always brings new opportunities in gaming!
It’s definitely exciting to see Ubisoft+ Classics joining the lineup! This could really expand the variety of games available, especially for fans of Ubisoft titles. It’ll be interesting to see how the price increase affects overall subscriber engagement in the long run.
Absolutely! The addition of Ubisoft+ Classics not only broadens the library but also highlights Microsoft’s strategy to enhance value for gamers. It’s a great opportunity for players to explore titles they might have missed.
It’s great to see Xbox expanding its offerings! The inclusion of Ubisoft+ Classics really enhances the overall value of the Game Pass Ultimate, especially for fans of diverse genres. It’ll be interesting to see how this affects player engagement in the long run.
Absolutely! The addition of Ubisoft+ Classics not only broadens the game library but also introduces some beloved titles that could attract a wider audience. It’ll be interesting to see how this impacts player engagement in the long run.
new titles that many players have been eager to try. It’s interesting to see how these partnerships might influence player engagement and satisfaction with the service. The price increase makes it essential for Microsoft to ensure that the value matches the cost.
You make a great point about the partnerships! It’s also worth noting how these additions could enhance the overall value of Game Pass Ultimate, especially for players who enjoy a mix of different genres. It’ll be fascinating to see how this affects player engagement in the coming months.
Thanks for your comment! The partnerships definitely enhance the overall value. It’s interesting to think about how the inclusion of Ubisoft+ Classics might attract more players who enjoy diverse gaming experiences, especially with the price increase now prompting some to reassess their subscriptions.
see how these collaborations can attract more players to the platform. With Ubisoft+ Classics joining the lineup, it opens up a whole new range of popular titles for subscribers. It will be intriguing to see how this impacts player engagement in the long run!