Microsoft has made a significant change to its popular Xbox Game Pass subscription service, potentially impacting how gamers choose their subscription tier. Subscribers to the Core and Standard tiers, the more affordable options, will now face extended wait times for access to first-party titles, potentially up to 12 months or more. This departure from previous policy, where all Game Pass subscribers enjoyed day-one access to new Xbox releases, is a notable shift.
The introduction of these new tiers, with varying levels of benefits, has led to this change. The higher-priced Ultimate ($20/month) and PC ($12/month) tiers continue to offer immediate access to new releases and include EA Play membership. In contrast, the Core ($10/month) and Standard ($15/month) tiers, while providing access to a curated catalogue of games, will not grant immediate access to Xbox’s latest offerings.
Megan Spurr, senior community lead for Xbox Game Pass, clarified in an Xbox Wire post that some games released on Game Pass Ultimate, including day-one releases, might not be available immediately on the Standard tier. This decision could have significant implications for gamers, especially as the availability of the Standard tier remains unconfirmed.
This change highlights the evolving landscape of gaming subscriptions, with Microsoft strategically differentiating its tiers and potentially influencing subscriber choices. Gamers now need to carefully consider the value proposition of each tier and determine whether the extended wait times for new releases on the lower tiers are acceptable.
