Microsoft announced a restructured Xbox Game Pass and raised its top-tier price by half. In November, Game Pass Ultimate will cost $29.99 per month, up from $19.99, marking the largest increase in the service’s history. The new model edits the three tiers to: Essential ($9.99), Premium ($14.99), and Ultimate ($29.99). They remain essentially the same, with the adition of cloudbut the shift has drawn heavy criticism from players and industry observers.
As of now, you can still buy Game Pass Ultimate in-store and online for $20, so stocking up may be worth it.
Day-One Access Restricted
The changes alter one of Game Pass’s biggest selling points: day-one access to new Xbox releases. Under the new structure, only Ultimate subscribers will receive full day-one launches, while Premium members will have to wait up to a year for new Xbox titles. Critics argue this effectively takes away a core feature from mid-tier subscribers while charging Ultimate players more for the same access they previously had.
FTC Scrutiny
The Federal Trade Commission already raised concerns last year, labeling the restructured plans a “degraded product.” Regulators argue that stripping back features from lower tiers and raising prices contradicts Microsoft’s earlier promises to keep Game Pass affordable and accessible following its Activision Blizzard acquisition.
Fan Backlash
Online forums have been flooded with complaints, with many subscribers threatening to cancel or switch to rival platforms. Some Xbox players note that the service, once celebrated as “the best deal in gaming,” has now priced itself out of reach, especially outside the U.S. where exchange rates further inflate the cost.
Industry Doubts
Game Pass has always been a contentious issue, with developers concerned that it devalues games, while others wondered if it was at all profitable. Since then, we’ve learned that Game Pass is in fact profitable, and along with the heavy layoffs that Microsoft has been deploying, it’ll no doubt bouy their profits if consumers swallow this price jump.
Even so, the 50% hike represents a major gamble. The coming months will show whether subscribers accept the higher costs or force Xbox to roll back their decision in some way.