Most major gaming platforms have a subscription service these days, from Nintendo Online to PS Plus and beyond. However, Xbox Game Pass remains arguably the most popular among the bunch. But much like Xbox consoles recently went up in price, Xbox fans just received another tough blow in the form of Game Pass price increases. But with the updated costs, Xbox also revealed new additions to the subscription service. And for some subscribers, this includes access to the popular Harry Potter RPG, Hogwarts Legacy.
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On October 1st, Xbox revealed changes to its subscription tiers for Xbox Game Pass. This includes an increased price for Game Pass Ultimate, but every subscription level has gotten some tweaks. This includes an expanded library for the Xbox Game Pass Premium tier, featuring newly added fan favorites. And among those fan-favorites is the beloved magic school open-world adventure, Hogwarts Legacy.
Xbox Game Pass Premium Library Now Includes Hogwarts Legacy And More
Starting October 1st, gamers who subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Premium and above will have access to Hogwarts Legacy as part of the subscription. This is one of a few newly added titles joining Premium, alongside Diablo IV and backlist games like Minecraft and GTA 5. But for many, a game like Hogwarts Legacy is the highlight of this latest update.
The 2023 open-world RPG remains incredibly popular to this day. Hogwarts Legacy lets players live out their wizarding world fantasies by creating a custom avatar and pursuing their magical interests. Despite some controversy about plot elements and the connection to J.K. Rowling, the game regularly surpasses 12,000 concurrent players on Steam alone. That’s pretty impressive two years after release, with no major content updates in recent memory. Now, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can check out the popular wizarding world RPG as part of their Premium subscription.
What’s more surprising about the sneaky addition of Hogwarts Legacy is, perhaps, its availability on the Premium tier. While the highest-level Ultimate subscription is getting a price hike, Premium is not. The subscription tier that now includes Hogwarts Legacy will still cost $14.99 a month, despite new additions. Alas, gamers who have the more budget-friendly Xbox Game Pass Essential plan will not have access to Hogwarts Legacy included.
Along with the addition of Hogwarts Legacy and several other brand-new games, Premium subscribers can look forward to free access to all new Xbox-published titles within their launch year. Given Xbox’s move away from console exclusives, this is a nice perk for Xbox Game Pass members to still feel like there’s a plus to being looped into the Xbox universe.
Though the price hike for Ultimate is certainly a crunch on Xbox Game Pass subscribers’ wallets, the addition of Hogwarts Legacy and other games does make the Premium tier more enticing. So, if you’re thinking of bumping down from Ultimate now that it’s going up by $10, at least there’s a magical world of spells and secrets waiting for you at the Premium subscription level. Clearly, today’s announcement from Xbox is a bit of a mixed bag, with some pros and cons for players to digest. But for Harry Potter fans with an Xbox Game Pass Premium subscription already on lock, it’s safe to say that’s a win.
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