Microsoft is increasing the price of Game Pass, and removing day one game access from lower tiers

Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft’s game subscription service, providing a broad game library, cloud gaming, as well as discounts and some other perks depending on your subscription tier — which will likely be getting pricier soon.

Xbox has announced some changes to the Xbox Game Pass coming July 10. These changes include price changes for new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members, Xbox Game Pass Core, and PC Game Pass. In addition, Game Pass for Console will no longer be available to new members, but if you’re already a subscriber with auto-renew enabled, you can still use this membership. A new Tier, Xbox Game Pass Standard, will become available; this will most likely replace Game Pass for Console, which is being phased out.

Going forward, the available tiers will be:

• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: In the US the price change will go from $16.99 to $19.99 per month for all new members, starting on July 10. This tier includes many Day One titles, as well as access to Xbox Cloud Gaming. You can access all your favorite PC or Console games like Diablo from Blizzard as well as many others.
• PC Game Pass: In the US the price change will go from $9.99 to $11.99 per month for all new members, starting on July 10. This tier provides access to a library of games for Windows 10/11 devices.
• Game Pass Core: In the US the monthly price remains the same ($9.99), but 12 month price change will go from $59.99 to $74.99, starting July 10 (additional subscription changes in select countries). This tier provides access to a collection of online games for the Xbox console.
• Game Pass Standard: This is a new tier, which will cost $14.99 a month when it launches, that provides access to hundreds of games and includes all the benefits of Game Pass Core. Game Pass Standard will not include games released on day one. Some games that are available day one for Ultimate members may be added at a later date for this plan.

Price changes will roll out July 10 for all new members, while price changes for existing members will start September 12. There’s a very lengthy list running down all the price changes country-by-country on the Xbox website.