Game Pass has always been praised for its value. It was providing you with a lot of cool games, for a very low price compared to competitors. However, with Microsoft’s latest overhaul, the community is split. Some see new and better offers, but others see a big price hike.
In just over a year, it completely doubled, and not everyone thinks there is a good reason for this.
What Is Happening With Game Pass
Microsoft has rolled out a major change to Xbox Game Pass. The service now comes in three different upgraded plans:
- Essential ($9.99/month): 50+ games, online multiplayer, cloud gaming.
- Premium ($14.99/month): 200+ games, console + PC library, unlimited cloud gaming, perks in certain games.
- Ultimate ($29.99/month): All of the above plus more than 75 day-one releases per year, Fortnite Crew ($11.99 value), Ubisoft+ Classics (~$15 value), EA Play, 1440p cloud streaming, and up to $100/year back in Microsoft Rewards points.
It is a big expansion, but it comes with a big catch. Ultimate’s price jumped by 50%, now costing $29.99/month ($360 a year).
Why Players Are Upset
The added stuff is nice, but not everyone wants Fortnite Crew or Ubisoft+ Classics. Many long-time subscribers feel they are being pushed into a more expensive plan for benefits they will never use.
Reddit and social media are full of frustrated players posting screenshots of failed attempts to cancel. The official Xbox website’s cancellation page is even overloaded from traffic as people rush to drop their subscriptions.
One fan summed it up bluntly: “I don’t want Ubisoft+ or Fortnite. I just want day-one Xbox games. Why am I paying $30 a month for stuff I didn’t ask for?“
A Risky Move for Microsoft
On paper, the new Game Pass Ultimate has a lot of value. But for many, this feels less like “choice” and more like a price hike disguised as an upgrade. If you want your Xbox games day one, you need the Ultimate subscription. But if you take that, you might also be paying for perks you do not need.
If enough players follow through with cancellations, Microsoft could be facing the biggest subscriber dip they have ever seen, when Game Pass was meant to be their strongest selling point.
For more details about the new plans, you can visit the official Xbox website.
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