The final stage of the Xbox Game Pass overhaul is approaching. Last July, Microsoft unveiled major (and controversial) changes to the pricing and operation of its subscription plan. Overnight, Game Pass Console disappeared in favor of a new Game Pass Standard tier that was still under development. New subscribers were then forced to subscribe to Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate – now billed at €17.99 per month instead of €14.99 – in order to take advantage of the services offered.
The €10.99 console subscription is no more, and will soon be replaced by a less advantageous formula. Microsoft's initial announcement revealed that day one releases, the major asset of the Game Pass to date, would no longer be accessible with the Standard tier. Only Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers will be able to continue to benefit from it. However, this new formula reserved for console players will also increase its prices. The first tests of the Game Pass Standard have just been launched for Xbox Insiders residing in the United States, suggesting an imminent deployment of the formula for all players. However, the specifics of this subscription are still too vague.
A lot of uncertainties
While testers of the formula can take advantage of an advantageous rate of only $1 per month to discover what it is all about, the official launch promises to be much less pleasant. Across the Atlantic, the Xbox Game Pass Standard will be billed at $14.99 per month. Knowing that there are price differences between the American and European Game Pass plans, the new tier could be billed between €11.99 and €12.99 in our country. The first tranche would make it possible to standardize the price with that practiced on PC since the increase, and therefore seems the most likely. The worst-case scenario according to which the Game Pass Standard would be billed at €14.99 – the price of the old Ultimate – remains nevertheless possible.
Pending an official announcement from Microsoft, this is obviously just speculation. New information shared by Megan Spurr, Community Director for Game Pass, however, provides more information about the day one releases. “Some Game Pass Ultimate releases (whether day one releases or other games) will not be immediately available in Game Pass Standard and may be added to the catalog at a later date. a later date (which could be up to 12 months or more and which will vary depending on the titles)“ she explains in the article published by the firm. Nothing therefore seems to guarantee the arrival of certain productions, which could well remain exclusive to Game Pass Ultimate.
As for the release date, players will have to be patient. Microsoft has promised to deploy the formula “in the coming months”, without further details. The Game Pass Standard test access requirements do, however, allow for a more precise launch window to be established. While Game Pass Ultimate subscribers simply cannot try out the Standard tier, it is indicated that “existing Game Pass Core subscribers with more than 2 months remaining” are not eligible. It is therefore possible that Game Pass Standard will make its appearance from November. To be continued.
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