Xbox is raising prices on Xbox Game Pass, despite recently proclaiming that it’s a profitable business model and just had a record-setting year for revenue. Since 2020, Xbox has positioned itself as an accessible and value-driven platform. You can get a beefy, all-powerful machine with the Xbox Series X at a higher price point, but if you just want to get in on the current-gen with some compromises, you can get the much cheaper Xbox Series S. On top of that, Xbox has Xbox Game Pass, a service that gives you access to a massive catalog of big AAA and indie games for a monthly cost.
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All in all, Xbox has been a great value if you’re on a budget or maybe don’t even know where to start. However, over the last year, things have begun to shift a bit. Xbox consoles have had multiple price increases this year, including one that made Xbox Series X a $650 console and the Series S a $400 console. These are major increases since their launches in 2020, as the Series X started at $500 and the S started at just $300. It has been an extremely frustrating time for people trying to get into Xbox, but the price increases are now impacting existing owners too.
Xbox Game Pass Price Rises 50%
Xbox has announced that Xbox Game Pass prices are going up. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the highest tier of the subscription which gets you day one access to all Xbox-published titles and more, is now going to cost $29.99, up $10 from its previous price point. The core, essential Game Pass tier will remain at $9.99 and the mid-tier premium option also remains at $14.99. As for Ultimate, Xbox is throwing in some new perks such as getting access to Ubisoft Classics and Fortnite Crew, two other services.
All of this comes just a day after President of Xbox Sarah Bond stated that Game Pass just recorded its highest-ever revenue of $5 billion and is a profitable business. It also comes just after the proper unveiling of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, a massive game that will be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one. Later this month, Xbox will also launch its own handheld device via the Xbox edition of the ASUS Rog Ally. The device will support Xbox Game Pass in a substantial way, so this price hike may also be a result of that.
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