Reports indicate that Xbox Game Pass is indeed gearing up for a price hike. However, the increase in prices is not the only adjustment in the works – Microsoft is planning a complete overhaul of Game Pass scheduled for September, in anticipation of the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which will involve eliminating day-one game access for the standard level.

According to Windows Central, a spokesperson from Microsoft has verified that significant modifications are on the horizon for Game Pass. Starting from September, the current ‘Game Pass for Console’ will be replaced with a new ‘standard’ tier that will no longer provide day-one access to new games, such as the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. While Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will retain day-one game access, they will face a higher fee for this privilege.

The revised breakdown for Game Pass tiers is as follows;

• Game Pass Ultimate (console + multiplayer, cloud, PC and day-one games) – $19.99 per month (plus taxes in applicable states)
• Game Pass (console + multiplayer, no day-one games) – $14.99 per month
• Game Pass PC (PC only, day-one games still included) – $11.99 per month
• Game Pass Core (smaller library for console + multiplayer) – $9.99 per month or $74.99 per year.

This adjustment will bring Game Pass more in line with EA Access, where the standard tier offers access to newer titles approximately 9 to 12 months after their release, with the Ultimate tier catering to those seeking immediate access to new games. It is important to note that with EA Play Pro, subscribers receive the ‘Gold’ edition of games, eliminating the need to purchase additional DLC or expansions. It remains to be seen whether Microsoft intends to introduce a similar benefit for Game Pass Ultimate post-restructuring.

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