Xbox Game Pass gets price increases, drops day one games on Standard tier

thesixthaxis.com:

Microsoft has made some big changes to Xbox Game Pass, shaking up what is offered on the “standard” tier and generally increasing prices for subscribers. Most significantly, access to first party Xbox games on day one will now not be included with the incoming Xbox Game Pass Standard for new console subscribers.

Going forward, the prices and general offerings will be:

See the full breakdown of price changes here. Xbox Game Pass Standard is “coming soon”, likely by September.

Any one with a current Xbox Game Pass for Console subscription will be able to continue paying with recurring billing for the foreseeable future and still have access to the current offering – the $10.99 / £8.99 price will also continue. This includes day one games and the full Xbox Game Pass catalogue, but Xbox Game Pass for Console does not include Xbox online multiplayer, cloud gaming or PC Game Pass.

A further change will come for the ability to stack subscriptions. From 12th September, you will only be able to stack Xbox Game Pass for Console for 13 months, doing so using pre-paid cards and conversions. Anyone with the current maximum of up to 36 months will be able to carry that forward, and other plans will also still have a 36 month stacking maximum.

All in all, this is a canny way for Microsoft to get through a price increase and break the long-standing pledge for all Game Pass subscribers to have day one games, and to make the most of the coming inclusion of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 as a day one launch game – previous speculation had been that a new higher priced tier would be added specially for Black Ops 6, but Microsoft is maintaining the general structure through this price increase and relaunch.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will still be the all-in-one package, but now comes at a higher price once again, while the annual price increase for Xbox Game Pass Core (formerly Xbox Live Gold) annual subs is a nasty sting in the tail. However, what’s more interesting is how Xbox Game Pass Standard