X-Box Game Pass remains one of the best deals. In gaming, it’s getting worse. This week, Microsoft completely upended its pricing structure. Game Subscription ServiceWhich makes everything more expensive and equally confusing. We’ve seen enough apps and streaming services go this route to know that this is a bad sign. Once you start raising prices and limiting shared features, you’re already on the road to commodification.
With just a handful of emails sent out to Game Pass customers, Microsoft has created a wave of confusion about the new price hike. Even with InstructionsMicrosoft had a hard time explaining the matter. Who gets what? Under their new payment system. At the top of the list, Microsoft has announced that it will be canceling its Game Pass for consoles service entirely for any new members who want to sign up after July 10. Starting on the same date, new Game Pass customers will have to pay more for each subscription.
US customers who pay for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will see a $3 increase to $20 per month. It will be $15 per year if you opt for Game Pass Core. PC Game Pass will go from $10 to $12 per month. There’s a new tier called Xbox Game Pass Standard for $15 per month. But it won’t be available until sometime in the future. This tier effectively replaces Game Pass for consoles.
After September 12, existing members will be able to see the new prices reflected on their monthly bills.
Confused yet? We’re not done yet. Microsoft is changing the expectations of what you’ll get depending on your subscription tier. Game Pass Ultimate remains the only tier that allows cloud gaming, but if you opt for the cheaper Game Pass Standard option, you won’t expect any first-party games on day one like the previous Game Pass tier for consoles did. So remember how Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Coming to Game PassIf you’re new to Game Pass, you’ll need to pay for PC Game Pass or Ultimate to get it when it launches.
If you still have Game Pass for console or Game Pass for PC, you’ll still get day one games. Game Pass Core is still the most basic tier, and is mostly available for online multiplayer access, but Standard seems like a pretty bad deal compared to what you’re getting now. Unless you sign up for Ultimate, you won’t get day one games on either. Xbox Series X Or S series.
The new tier structure is ridiculous. It expects new and existing customers to analyze a whole bunch of key points to understand exactly what they’re paying for. You can’t just pay for Game Pass, you have to pay for Correct version Netflix could be Game Pass. Delegate its class structure By removing the basic subscription and forcing users to use Netflix with ads or the standard subscription, but at least you get access to the same content no matter what. That can no longer be said about Game Pass.
What does this mean for the future of Game Pass?
As a reminder to those in the back row, the word “enactment” is a word coined by Tech Blogger Corey Doctorow To describe how applications and services work. tampering with users This term is often used to benefit the company and its investors before it inevitably turns to abuse those same investors. This term has gained a lot of popularity in the last few years. You can see it in some of the most Popular social media appsIf you suffer from Digital Concert Tickets or Restaurant reservationsI witnessed the results of the funeral.
Enshittification isn’t inevitable, though it’s a given. Microsoft has been pushing Game Pass for a few years now, to the point where it’s starting to look like its hardware has taken a back seat. During its last big gaming showcase, Microsoft’s big hardware release for the first half of 2024 was Xbox Series X is more expensive with 1TB storage.
According to The Verge Tom Warren Citing anonymous sources, Microsoft is working to cut Xbox sales in Europe. We know that the Redmond, Washington-based tech giant has been pushing hard on Game Pass, even hinting that it would cut Xbox sales in Europe. I will try to get it on competing devices.Last week, Amazon and Microsoft announced that you can now stream cloud gaming titles through a handful of Fire TV devices, meaning you don’t necessarily need a smart TV or PC to access the Xbox app and play a wide range of streaming titles. Xbox chief Phil Spencer addressed the main topic of the news, Tweet “Don’t have a controller? Don’t worry.”
But all this expansion wasn’t enough to recoup some of the $69 billion the company spent on buying Activision Blizzard. Nearly 2,000 employees have been laid off. From the studios the company recently bought earlier this year. There was a promise to see Call of Duty launch on Game Pass, but now that will be capped depending on how much you’re willing to pay Microsoft each month.
Despite all that, Game Pass is still a very, very good service. Its cloud service is very smooth, and its game selection is one of the best options among gaming subscription services. And even though it costs $20, it now has to compete with other services like Nvidia’s GeForce Now Ultimate servicewhich has higher graphics quality with better bitrates. Game Pass is currently better than Sony’s PlayStation Plus subscription service. PlayStation Plus also increased in price last year, with Executives blame ‘market conditions’ For mobility. Game Pass Ultimate is $2 more per month than PlayStation Plus Premium.
Streaming services have been steadily increasing their fees across the board. It seems inevitable that Microsoft and Sony will eventually ask gamers to pay more for their games. But what if it’s worse? Game Pass needs more subscribers to be a viable alternative to the pure hardware business and to make up for the losses from the Activision Blizzard deal. If Microsoft can’t generate that revenue, a worse service seems inevitable. And like streaming, the only outcome is a race to the bottom.
