Microsoft has officially rolled out its new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier. Priced at $14.99 per month, this new offering aims to bridge the gap between the basic Core tier and the premium Ultimate subscription. However, the tweener subscription has both notable additions and glaring omissions, much to the chagrin and confusion of Xbox Game Pass subscribers.
The Game Pass Standard tier provides subscribers access to a vast library of games, online console multiplayer capabilities, and exclusive discounts on select titles. This places it as a middle-ground option for gamers who want more than the basic Core offering but don’t require all the bells and whistles of the Ultimate package (or they just don’t play on the PC).
One of the most significant changes with the Standard tier is the absence of day-one game releases. Previously, subscribers to the now-discontinued Xbox Game Pass for Console tier enjoyed immediate access to new releases on their launch day.
With the new Standard plan, this perk is no longer available. Microsoft has stated it may add some games to the Standard library at a later date, but this could take up to 12 months or more, depending on the title.
High-profile upcoming titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle aren’t coming to Game Pass Standard upon release. Instead, they’ll need to either purchase these games separately, upgrade to the Ultimate tier, or subscribe to PC Game Pass to enjoy day-one access.
The introduction of Game Pass Standard comes alongside a restructuring of the Game Pass lineup. The new hierarchy now consists of four distinct tiers:
- Xbox Game Pass Core: At $9.99 per month, this entry-level tier offers a limited selection of over 25 games, online console multiplayer, and some discounts.
- Xbox Game Pass Standard: The new $14.99 per month option provides hundreds of games, online console multiplayer, and discounts, but excludes day-one releases.
- PC Game Pass: Priced at $11.99 per month, this PC-exclusive tier includes hundreds of games, recent day-one titles, EA Play, and discounts.
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: The premium tier at $19.99 per month offers the most comprehensive package, including hundreds of games, day-one releases, EA Play, online console multiplayer, discounts, and additional perks.
Game Pass Standard offers a balanced option for console gamers, but the removals have ruffled feathers. So far, over 40 titles previously available in the original Game Pass subscription for consoles are no longer available, including first-party releases like Starfield, which is undergoing a renaissance of sorts a year after it was bashed to oblivion, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, and Diablo 4.
It also appears Microsoft has retroactively applied its new policy regarding day-one releases, removing games it added to the service within the past year, leaving some subscribers to feel shortchanged. The company may feel like it’s worth risking the backlash to potentially drive more subscriptions to the higher-priced Ultimate tier.
The launch of Xbox Game Pass Standard comes at a crucial time for Microsoft, as the company faces stiff competition. With the PlayStation 5 Pro gaining all sorts of bad and good publicity ahead of its pre-orders going live later this month and the Nintendo Switch 2 nearing an official announcement, Microsoft is under an enormous amount of pressure.
The Game Pass was—and it still is— one of the edges of buying an Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X, even though, more often than not, these improvements have come at the expense of Xbox owners. It’s unclear how the changes will change the perceived value of the Xbox, although it’s still likely going to be the more economical console based on the recent price hikes for the PS5, especially in Japan.
