Katarzyna Petru
Microsoft has just announced the biggest changes in years to its flagship subscription service. Xbox Game Pass, available on consoles, PC, and in the cloud, has been divided into three new variants: Essential, Premium, and Ultimate. Sounds familiar? That's because the previous Core and Standard are disappearing, replaced by refreshed packages.
The biggest controversy surrounds the price of the Ultimate variant, which is the only option that provides Microsoft's premiere games (such as the latest installments of Call of Duty) on the day of release. In the USA, the increase reaches as much as 50% – from $19.99 to $29.99.
New Variants of Xbox Game Pass
Essential – access to over 50 games, online multiplayer, and cloud in the basic version.
Premium – over 200 games for PC and consoles, better cloud gaming, and access to exclusive titles. Games from Microsoft studios appear here up to a year after their release.
Ultimate – over 400 games, including blockbuster releases from Microsoft and partners. Additionally, EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, and the highest quality cloud streaming.
Game Pass Prices (Monthly)
Variant | USD | AUD | EUR | GBP | PLN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Essential | 8.99 | ~13.99 | ~8.49 | ~6.99 | 36.99 |
Premium | 12.99 | ~19.99 | ~11.99 | ~9.99 | 54.99 |
Ultimate | 29.99 | ~44.99 | ~28.99 | ~24.99 | 114.99 |
(Prices in AUD, EUR, and GBP converted based on exchange rates may vary from final values in regional Microsoft stores)
What's new in the library?
To avoid only discussing prices – Microsoft has immediately added strong titles to the Premium and Ultimate offerings. Starting today, the following are available:
Hogwarts Legacy
Skull and Bones
The Crew 2
14 games from the Assassin’s Creed series (from the first part to titles released before Origins and the latest Shadows).
What does it mean?
The new structure of Game Pass is a clear signal: Microsoft clearly wants to get more out of players who have already become accustomed to an "all-inclusive" subscription. Essential and Premium look reasonably priced, but if someone wants to play new releases from day one – they must prepare for a significant expense.
