Microsoft spent the entirety of 2021 proving that the Game Pass is a superior video game subscription service. After Outriders, Microsoft only continued to grow the list of games that would be available on the Game Pass at launch for no added charge. But, with Microsoft’s recent acquisitions, specifically its purchase of Activision Blizzard, fans couldn’t help but wonder if the tech giant would pass on the cost of expanding the Game Pass’ library to its subscribers.
As if sensing the growing unrest among subscribers, newly announced Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has confirmed that the Game Pass’ subscription price will remain the same for the foreseeable future.
In an interview with Axios’ gaming newsletter, Spencer downplayed fears that Microsoft is going to drive up the prices of the Game Pass anytime soon. Specifically, Spencer points out how the price has remained the same for the better part of the past four years. Although Spencer did not go ahead and explicitly say that the price isn’t going to change, his words do suggest that he would have been more transparent if it were the case.
Having said that, it appears that part of Microsoft’s goals for the moment is to turn Starfield into “the most-played Todd Howard game ever.” It’s a tall ask for a game that’s exclusive to Xbox consoles, something that Bethesda felt warranted an apology.
Earlier in the day, Spencer confirmed that Microsoft doesn’t plan on making Activision Blizzard games exclusive to Xbox consoles. This is the right move when you think about how much Microsoft stands to lose once it officially acquires the controversial publisher. After setting a new microtransaction for two consecutive years (with a third one potentially in the bag), it is in Microsoft’s best interests to release Activision Blizzard’s properties across all platforms.
At the moment, a Game Pass subscription costs $9.99 a month with Game Pass Ultimate costing $14.99 a month. Both punch well above their financial weights in terms of value with Ultimate featuring mobile streaming, Xbox Live Gold, as well as EA Play.
Ultimately, a Game Pass price hike will happen. It’s wishful thinking that the Game Pass will remain as cheap as it is today. But, when this occurs, the Game Pass will probably have welcomed even more AAA titles, shooting up the total value of the games in its library by a significant amount.
In other video game news, Call of Duty just welcomed the second season of Warzone Pacific and Vanguard. Meanwhile, Blizzard just confirmed that a mobile Warcraft game is coming later this year along with Infinity Wards’ newest Call of Duty game, which is reportedly a team effort with nearly a dozen studios teaming up to work on the game.
