Xbox Game Pass Price Increase Precedes New Handheld Launch
▼ Summary
– Xbox is raising Game Pass prices with three new tiers: Essential ($9.99), Premium ($14.99), and Ultimate ($29.99), each offering 50-plus, 200-plus, and 400-plus games respectively.
– Higher-priced Game Pass tiers include additional benefits like more day-one games, improved cloud gaming, and access to EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, and Fortnite Crew for the Ultimate plan.
– Xbox console prices are increasing starting October 3, with the Series S rising to $399.99 and Series X to $649.99, marking the second price hike in six months due to macroeconomic factors.
– Microsoft announced two new handheld consoles, the Xbox ROG Ally at $599.99 and the Xbox ROG Ally X at $999.99, available for preorder and releasing on October 16.
– The Xbox ROG Ally X is a Best Buy exclusive and differs from the white model in specs, with both devices being platform-agnostic and part of a partnership with Asus.
Ahead of the October 16 debut of its new handheld consoles, Microsoft has announced a significant price adjustment for its Xbox Game Pass subscription service. The revised structure introduces a clearer distinction between three membership levels, Essential, Premium, and Ultimate, with pricing now directly tied to the size of the available game library. This platform-agnostic approach aligns well with the upcoming Xbox ROG Ally devices, which blend console and PC gaming capabilities.
The new Game Pass Essential plan is priced at $9.99 per month and offers access to just over 50 games. Stepping up to the Premium tier, subscribers pay $14.99 monthly for a catalog exceeding 200 titles. At the top end, the Ultimate plan costs $29.99 per month and unlocks more than 400 games. Higher-tier members enjoy extra perks, including a greater selection of day-one releases, enhanced Microsoft Rewards earnings, improved cloud streaming quality, and reduced wait times for popular games. Only the Ultimate subscription now bundles in EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, and Fortnite Crew, benefits that were previously more widely available.
These increases follow earlier pricing for Game Pass. The former PC Game Pass was $11.99 per month, while the prior Ultimate plan, popular among console users, cost $19.99. The new pricing model creates a much wider gap between entry-level and premium offerings.
This subscription service adjustment comes on the heels of recently announced console price hikes. Starting Friday, October 3, the Xbox Series S, the all-digital, entry-level model, will see its price rise by $20 to $399.99. Meanwhile, the high-end Xbox Series X, which includes a disc drive, will increase by $50 to $649.99. Various other console configurations will see increases ranging from $20 to $70, marking the second time in just six months that Xbox hardware prices have gone up. Microsoft attributed these changes to “macroeconomic factors,” widely interpreted as a response to recent tariff policies.
Separately, Microsoft confirmed pricing for its upcoming handheld consoles, developed in collaboration with hardware partner Asus. The revealed prices came in higher than many earlier leaks had suggested. The white Xbox ROG Ally will retail for $599.99, while the black Xbox ROG Ally X is set at $999.99. Beyond color, the two models differ significantly in their technical specifications, with the Ally X offering upgraded components and exclusive availability through Best Buy.
Both Xbox handheld devices are available for preorder immediately, with official sales beginning on October 16.
(Source: Hollywood Reporter)
