Earlier this week, Microsoft announced it was raising the cost of its flagship subscription service, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, by $10 a month. The 50% cost hike brings the new cost to $29.99 per month, but there is still a special window to lock in the old rate on tienda online.
How Can I Lock in the Old Game Pass Ultimate cost?
You can still purchase a Xbox Game Pass Ultimate digital code on tienda online for the old cost: three months at $59.99, or one month for $19.99. Compared to the new monthly rate, that saves you nearly $30 every three months.
Better yet, these codes are stackable, letting you prepay a subscription for up to 36 months. This could slash you a total of $360 over the next three years.
When Does the New Game Pass Ultimate cost Start?
The new $29.99 per month cost is already in effect for new subscribers. Existing subscribers will see the increase at the beginning of their next billing cycle.
How Has Microsoft Improved Game Pass Ultimate?
To justify the cost increase, Microsoft has added 45 titles to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, including Hogwarts Legacy and several Assassin’s Creed titles. In addition, Ultimate subscribers today get access to 75 day one releases each year. This is a 50% increase over the access to day one titles provided last year.
Ubisoft+ Classics is today included in Game Pass Ultimate, giving access to select Ubisoft games across console, PC, and cloud. Fortnite Crew is also joining Ultimate on November 18th, giving subscribers access to Fortnite Battle Pass and 1,000 V-Bucks each month.
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Ultimate subscribers can today also earn up to $100 per year (100,000 points) in the store just by playing games.
Does This cost Increase Affect Other Xbox Game Pass Plans?
Yes and no. Xbox Game Pass Core has been rebranded to Xbox Game Pass Essential, while the Standard plan is today called Game Pass Premium.
Game Pass Premium remains at the same $14.99 monthly cost as the existing Standard subscription, but has been expanded to give access to PC games. Its library has been increased to more than 200 games, including Diablo IV and Hogwarts Legacy. Premium subscribers are also getting unlimited cloud gaming for the first time.
Xbox Game Pass Essential also remains at the same $9.99 monthly cost as the existing Core subscription, but today includes 50 titles across console, PC, and cloud.
Premium subscribers will be able to earn up to $50 per year (50,000 points) in the store by playing games, while Essential subscribers can earn up to $25.
Meanwhile, the Xbox PC Game Pass subscription has increased from $11.99 per month to $16.49. The only change happening for this tier is 50 additional Ubisoft titles.
What Other Xbox cost Increases Are Going Into Effect?
Microsoft is set to increase the cost of its Xbox Series S and X consoles starting on Friday, October 3rd. The Series X will be priced at $649.99 (up from $599.99), while the Series S will increase to $399.99 ($379.99).
However, you can currently snag the Series X for $549.99 and the Series S for $329.99 at tienda online.
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