Xbox seems to be preparing to raise prices on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, according to emails sent out to some subscribers today.
A number of Xbox users based outside of the United States began sharing screenshots of emails sent to them today, which state that beginning in September, they will be charged an increased price for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. In Canada, for instance, it appears the price is increasing from $18.99/month to $22.99/month.
@JeffGrubb @DestinLegarie @Wario64 Just received this email. I'm in Canada.
— Andrew (@DrewM987) July 9, 2024
Xbox Gamepass Ultimate is increasing for me. pic.twitter.com/emQ450o4h5
Following these reports, Windows Central seems to have confirmed with Microsoft that the pricing changes are real, and are coming alongside a number of other shifts to the service beginning September 12, 2024. According to the report, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is going up to $19.99/month in the United States (up from $16.99/month previously), while PC Game Pass is going up from $9.99/month to $11.99/month. Xbox Game Pass Core (the subscription that only includes online multiplayer and a small selection of games) will go up to $74.99/year from $59.99/year, but the monthly subscription will remain at $9.99/month.
Additionally, Xbox Game Pass for Console will soon no longer accept new users (existing subscribers can continue their plans). New subscribers will instead be funnelled to Xbox Game Pass "Standard" priced at $14.99/month in the United States, which includes back catalog games and multiplayer functions, but does not include day-one game releases or Xbox Cloud gaming. And finally, Xbox will only allow its users to pre-pay for Xbox Game Pass for Console for up to 13 months going forward - users with more months than that already paid for will not be impacted.
All these changes will go into effect September 12, 2024, and will impact all markets globally. More pricing details for different regions are expected to be shared soon.
Notably, Xbox just raised prices on Game Pass last year, raising its "Ultimate" price from $14.99/month to $16.99/month in its first price hike since 2017. Rumors have circulated since May of this year that Xbox was pondering an additional price increase, especially given the planned addition of future Call of Duty games day-one to the service following Xbox's acquisition of Activision Blizzard last year. The gaming arm has also been making a number of cost-cutting changes in recent months, including shutting down Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin in May, and announcing the lay-off of 1,900 staff members in January.
IGN has reached out to Xbox for comment.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
