Xbox Game Pass new tiers: Core, Standard and Ultimate differences and prices explained

As a long-time cinephile and avid gamer, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the gaming industry news, and the recent price hikes for Xbox Game Pass tiers have left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, I understand that acquiring such a massive company as Activision-Blizzard-King comes at a cost, and Microsoft needs to recoup those expenses. On the other hand, I’ve grown accustomed to the current pricing structure and find these price increases unfortunate.

Without a doubt, Xbox Game Pass is introducing a new tier in an effort to recoup Microsoft’s expenses from their acquisition of Activision-Blizzard-King. Here’s a clear explanation of the Core, Standard, and Ultimate differences along with their respective prices.

Buying a company with popular franchises like Activision’s Call of Duty, Blizzard’s World of Warcraft, and King’s Candy Crush came with a substantial price tag. Consequently, increasing the costs for consumers seemed unavoidable.

As a long-time fan of Call of Duty series, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news with fellow gaming enthusiasts. Having grown up playing this iconic franchise, I can’t help but feel nostalgic as we witness more and more titles making their way onto subscription services like Xbox Game Pass. And what a treat it is to learn that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is now joining the ranks!

Another way to phrase this could be: Xbox Game Pass will soon offer Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, likely a trial run to gauge player interest.

Xbox Game Pass subscribers have been able to play Diablo 4 since early 2024, but there are still many other games that could be included in the service.

With that said, let’s see what the damage is, shall we?

Xbox Game Pass new tiers at a glance

Three types of Xbox Game Pass exist now: One for console and PC users only, another for those using both platforms, and a third one is exclusive to each platform.

They are described as follows by Microsoft on the official Xbox Game Pass page:

Xbox Game Pass Core
- Online console multiplayer
- Catalogue of over 25 games on console
- Member deals & discounts
PC Game Pass
- Hundreds of games on PC
- New games on day one
- Member deals & discounts
- EA Play membership
Xbox Game Pass Standard
- Online console multiplayer
- Hundreds of games on console

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
- Hundreds of games on console, PC and cloud
- New games on day one
- Member deals, discounts and Perks
- Online console multiplayer
- EA Play membership

Now, read on for the unfortunate matter of the price increases.

Prices and differences explained for new Xbox Game Pass tiers

Based on my personal experience, I believe that new subscribers are required to pay the increased costs right away, while existing or recurring subscribers have the benefit of holding off on their payment until September 1st. This difference in payment schedules can significantly impact one’s financial planning and budgeting, depending on which group you belong to. As a new subscriber, I remember feeling taken aback when I first encountered this arrangement, having to pay a higher cost upfront compared to those who had been subscribed for longer. On the other hand, as a recurring subscriber, I’ve appreciated the flexibility of not having to worry about an unexpected price hike until later in the year. This experience has taught me to keep track of subscription renewal dates and consider the potential implications when deciding whether to continue or cancel my subscriptions.

Below are each of the tiers, how much they cost and how much the price went up by:

Xbox Game Pass Core

The cost for Xbox Game Pass Core, previously named Xbox Live Gold, remains at £6.99 per month. However, the annual subscription fee has risen from £49.99 to £55.99.

This tier doesn’t receive any day-one releases, so it’s pretty barebones.

PC Game Pass

Game Pass PC’s monthly price is increasing from £7.99 to £9.99.

Xbox Game Pass Standard

In the UK, the price for Xbox Game Pass Standard has not been disclosed yet, but it’s known to be priced at $14.99 in the US. As for the cost in the UK, we might assume an approximate figure of around £12.99. Note that Xbox Game Pass Standard does not include day-one releases.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Already expensive, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s monthly price is increasing from £12.99 to £14.99.

2024-07-25 20:04