Microsoft is completely restructuring the Xbox Game Pass subscription system for the second time in 15 months. Most prices are going up, which has led to mass cancellation attempts.
In a video lasting just under four minutes, Microsoft explains what is changing with Xbox Game Pass. From the renaming of some tariff levels to expanded content packages. What the software giant fails to mention is that almost everything is becoming more expensive. However, subscribers quickly discovered this for themselves – and responded with mass cancellation attempts.
Essential instead of Core, Premium instead of Standard
But first things first: Xbox Game Pass Core will become Xbox Game Pass Essential, and the Standard version will become the Premium version. Only Game Pass Ultimate will not be renamed. “More games, more ways to play, more rewards,” Microsoft promises in the explanatory clip. What exactly does this mean for the individual subscription levels?
Essential will not only be available for consoles in the future, but also for PC and cloud gaming. The library will include “more than 50 games.” In-game benefits for League of Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Overwatch 2 are also part of the package.
Premium increases the selection to “more than 200 games,” including Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto 5, and Forza Horizon 5. New titles from Microsoft studios such as Activision and Bethesda will be added within a year of release. The exception is Call of Duty, but this is only mentioned in the fine print.
Ultimate offers “more than 400 games” and is also set to be stocked with 75 day-one releases per year. This also applies to Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, for example. Also included in the most expensive package: Ubisoft+ Classics, EA Play, and, starting November 18, Fortnite Crew. The latter subscription offers the Fortnite Battle Pass and 1,000 V-Bucks.
Three out of four subscription models are becoming more expensive
More content, so everything’s fine? Of course not. Microsoft is asking subscribers to pay more for the restructuring: Essential will now cost 9 euros per month instead of 7. Ultimate will even see a 50 percent increase: the tier will cost 27 euros in the future instead of 18. Only Premium – formerly Standard – will remain at 13 euros.
And what about the PC Game Pass, which isn’t even mentioned in the video? Its price is also going up – from €13 to €15 per month.
Ultimate cancellation page crashes
These price increases, combined with the rather opaque communication, caused an uproar in the gaming community.
Numerous users loudly voiced their anger on social media. Many screenshots of successful Xbox Game Pass cancellations made the rounds. The sheer number of people who wanted to cancel their Ultimate subscription temporarily overwhelmed the website designed for this purpose. Until the cancel crash occurred – and the site collapsed.
This rounded off the more than unfortunate overall picture of the restructuring.
Especially since Microsoft had last adjusted the Xbox Game Pass in July 2024.
