Will Xbox Game Pass Increase in Price? | Game Rant
Microsoft is making some big plays with Xbox Series X this year, though not just necessarily with the console itself. While the technical specs of the Series X shows the console has some very capable hardware, the changes to the Xbox ecosystem are what's most important. Game Pass is the most prominent change in recent years, with Microsoft fundamentally shifting the way gaming fans play games. Now with the new console, Xbox Game Pass is becoming a focal point of the Xbox ecosystem.
With a stronger focus on Game Pass, there's a valid possibility that the subscription price may increase over time as the service's offering expands. Granted there's a couple ways this could happen, depending on how Xbox wants to implement the changes. Rumors based on some preliminary Xbox Live subscription changes have pointed to Game Pass being integrated into Xbox Live, but Microsoft hasn't made an official statement on a price change. Still, it's very possible with the expansion of Game Pass, that the subscription rate may adjust to account for all of the new games and features coming to the service.
Xbox Live has been part of the Xbox's online capability since the original console came out in 2001. Ever since the Xbox 360 moved the platform to a subscription-based service, there hasn't been a seriously significant change to Xbox Live in years. The closest thing was when Games with Gold started gifting games to subscribers, other than that the service has remained rock solid. Even now, both Game Pass and Xbox Live remain two different subscriptions unless consumers opt-in for the Game Pass Ultimate bundle subscription. Microsoft may continue that trend by restructuring the pricing separately between Xbox Live and Game Pass.
There's no real evidence to support this; if anything, raising the price of Game Pass alone isn't likely. Based on Microsoft's recent decisions with the Xbox brand, Xbox Live and Game Pass likely won't stay separated for long. PlayStation does the same thing with PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now, a comparatively less comprehensive games subscription. Even then, the price discrepancy between both services has been a significant barrier even for hardcore PlayStation fans to get a similar experience to Game Pass. Xbox likely doesn't want to make the same mistake, so a price increase for one or both simply wouldn't make sense.
What's more likely is that Xbox Live and Game Pass will be bundled permanently, rather than keeping both subscriptions separate. One of the most popular subscription choices among Xbox fans is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which already bundles both subscriptions together under one monthly price of $14.99. Of course there are plenty of fans who likely already paid the $59.99 for the yearly subscription, but for those who are renewing Xbox Live and want Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the best value and perfect deal. That deal could become status quo considering Xbox's good faith and consumer-positive business changes in the last few years.
Microsoft has already seemingly discontinued the yearly subscription of Xbox Live from its store, so the plans may already be in place to bring Xbox Live and Game Pass together. Considering the only Xbox Live subscription rates available for purchase now are 1-month or 3-month subscriptions, that's only enough time to last before the Xbox Series X launches this holiday. Even putting all that aside, considering Game Pass' massive popularity and success, combining it with the necessity of Xbox Live just makes the most sense.
Either way, it's not going to break Xbox's momentum moving into the next-generation. Game Pass has become such a solid offering on its own with the sheer amount of games on the service. Both potential changes are still consumer-friendly at the end of the day: Game Pass subscribers can theoretically keep paying for the service, whilst retaining freedom on how much Xbox Live they wish to purchase at once. Alternatively, consumers would theoretically save money in the long term if Xbox Live and Game Pass converge into one monthly subscription altogether. Though the bundle makes the most sense and is the logical choice for players, either way has benefits.
The future of Xbox looks great as they refocus their position in the market. The idea of the "console war" was outdated before, but now the concept doesn't even make sense. PlayStation and Xbox are crafting two completely different ecosystems of gaming. Xbox's consumer friendly approach is unlike anything realistically seen in gaming yet, and is only good for gaming fans. Whether you're a hardcore Xbox fan, or even a PC player who wants more gaming variety in a budget-friendly manner, Game Pass is quickly becoming the best option. If a slightly higher price can make the service even better, then it won't be a deal breaker for enthusiasts.
Xbox Series X launches this fall.
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