Although the Xbox console might not be thriving, Xbox Game Pass is still the best deal in gaming—if you’re aware of it. Microsoft’s branding issues have made it difficult for many to understand the service.
With another round of price increases, Xbox Game Pass has become even more confusing, similar to the experience of TV streaming service subscribers.
Currently, as of July, there are two Game Pass options for PC gamers:
- PC Game Pass ($10 per month) offers access to several hundred games from Microsoft and its partners, including most EA Play titles, with day-one access to new Microsoft-published games. These games must be downloaded and installed locally, requiring a gaming desktop or laptop.
- Game Pass Ultimate ($17 per month) includes the full PC Game Pass library and allows streaming many of those games from Microsoft’s cloud. The streaming library isn’t exhaustive but includes some Xbox classics from previous generations.
For those with an Xbox console, there are more options. Game Pass Core ($10 per month), formerly Xbox Live, enables online multiplayer gaming and provides a small library of “over 25” games.
Console gamers can also choose Game Pass Ultimate to stream some PC games and play games on mobile devices. Another option is Game Pass Console ($11 per month), which offers a library of downloadable Xbox games without the EA Play titles and excludes online multiplayer, which is included in Game Pass Core.
The multiple Game Pass tiers create a complex and potentially expensive decision for gamers. In September, price increases will coincide with the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Game Pass Ultimate will rise to $20 per month, PC Game Pass to $12 per month, and a new Game Pass Standard tier will be introduced at $15 per month. This new tier includes downloadable console games and online multiplayer but excludes streaming and day-one releases.
Microsoft’s complicated Game Pass tiers are reminiscent of the various options available for Microsoft Office and Office 365. Simplifying the plans to three options could help: PC Game Pass, Game Pass Basic for Xbox, and Game Pass Ultimate. This would make it easier for gamers to understand and choose the right plan for their needs.