Is Xbox Game Pass really worth it anymore?

digitaltrends.com:

Xbox Game Pass is changing. On Tuesday night, Microsoft quietly announced that it was retooling its game subscription service. The change would bring new tiers, including one that doesn’t feature “day one” releases, and a price hike to the Ultimate tier. Naturally, fans didn’t take the news well. The decision has already been dissected by players who theorize that the end of Xbox’s subscription service is nigh — or at least that it’s turning into a bum deal.

Are players overreacting over a couple of dollars or is there legitimacy to the doomsaying? It’s likely a bit of both, but there’s no doubt that Xbox Game Pass’ value wanes with the new change. The question is whether or not it’s still a good deal even if it’s a pricier one. That’s where things get complicated. What used to be a no-brainer for all Xbox players now feels like its geared toward a narrower audience. And I know for sure that I’m not the target anymore.

Is Xbox Game Pass worth it?

Let’s recap what exactly is changing on Xbox’s service. For starters, Xbox Game Pass for Console is going away for new subscribers. That will more or less be replaced by Xbox Game Pass Standard, a new tier that is missing one key perk: It will not feature “day one” games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Each remaining tier is getting a price hike. Xbox Game Pass PC will go from $10 to $12 per month, while Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will jump from $17 to $20 per month. Those are the tiers players will need to subscribe to in order to get “day one” games.

Those changes may not sound like a lot on paper. What’s another $3 a month if you get a lot of use out of the service currently? It’s an annual rise from $204 to $240 (before taxes), which is about half the cost of one major release. It’s a much bigger jump for those who only use Game Pass on console, which creates a bigger starting investment for new subscribers. The difference between $11 and $20 a month is fairly massive.

The thing to keep in mind, though, is that Game Pass’