Microsoft has announced a price increase for its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, now set at $29.99 per month. This change comes amid a restructuring of their service tiers, eliminating the standalone PC Game Pass. The updated tiers are Game Pass Essential at $9.99/month for 50+ games, Game Pass Premium at $14.99/month for 200+ games, and Game Pass Ultimate with access to over 400 games. The new Ultimate tier continues to offer day one game releases alongside improvements in cloud gaming and a revamped Rewards program, but users must now redeem points via gift cards for subscriptions. This shake-up comes in light of Microsoft's investments in Game Pass and the recent hardware price hike across Xbox consoles.

Will Xbox Game Pass Ultimate still offer day one releases after the price hike?

Yes, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will continue to include access to day one releases, a key benefit of the tier.

Xbox Game Pass has been a pivotal element of Microsoft's gaming strategy since its launch in 2017, offering gamers a subscription-based access model to a broad library of titles. The service has grown significantly in popularity, providing a convenient way for players to explore new games without fronting the full purchase price. As the gaming industry evolves, these adjustments reflect the ongoing challenges and opportunities that subscription models face in the digital landscape.