Microsoft’s popular gaming subscription service, Xbox Game Pass, has undergone significant structural adjustments, particularly affecting its Standard tier. These changes, implemented on September 12, reveal that the new basic console subscription, priced at $14.99 per month, no longer grants access to highly anticipated and major titles such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Starfield, and Diablo 4. This marks a notable shift from previous offerings, where many flagship games were broadly available across various tiers.
The updated subscription model sees Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s monthly cost increase to $19.99, retaining all its premium benefits. In contrast, Xbox Game Pass Standard steps in as the most affordable console-focused option. While it provides a substantial library of games and online multiplayer, it distinctly omits day-one releases, the extensive EA Play collection, cloud gaming capabilities, exclusive member perks, and specific discounts. Essentially, subscribers to the Standard tier are presented with a more streamlined, yet considerably more restricted, gaming experience compared to the comprehensive Ultimate package.
Xbox Game Pass Changes
The landscape of Xbox Game Pass subscriptions has evolved, with Microsoft initiating revised tier structures in July and rolling them out formally on September 12. These adjustments bring both price changes and modifications to game access across the various tiers. The flagship Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now costs $19.99 per month, a rise from its previous $16.99, but continues to deliver the complete suite of features, including access to the full Game Pass library, PC Game Pass, EA Play, day-one launches, online multiplayer, exclusive member deals, perks, and cloud streaming. This remains the premium option for players seeking an all-encompassing gaming experience.
Replacing the former Game Pass for Console, the new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier is now available at $14.99 per month. While it offers online multiplayer and a substantial collection of games, it importantly excludes day-one titles, a significant departure for subscribers used to immediate access to new Xbox releases. Moreover, the Standard tier does not incorporate the EA Play library, cloud gaming services, special member perks, or specific quests and discounts that are integral to the Ultimate experience. This distinct separation means players must now carefully consider which tier aligns best with their gaming priorities and budget, particularly concerning immediate access to blockbuster new games and an expanded game catalog.
Beyond these two primary console-focused options, PC Game Pass remains at $11.99 monthly, ensuring access to PC-specific games, EA Play, and member discounts, notably including day-one titles for PC users. Furthermore, Xbox Game Pass Core, essentially a rebranding of Xbox Live Gold, costs $9.99 per month. This entry-level tier provides online multiplayer alongside a curated selection of approximately 25 Xbox Game Pass titles and member deals, serving as a more basic online gaming gateway. For existing subscribers, the old Xbox Game Pass Console tier is grandfathered in at $10.99, still offering day-one games from its limited library but no longer available for new subscriptions. These multi-tiered offerings underscore a strategic move by Microsoft to diversify its subscription options, catering to different player needs and spending habits, though not without altering expectations around game availability at various price points.
Which version of Game Pass are you subscribed to?
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Games Not on Xbox Game Pass Standard (Not Including the EA Play Library)
For console gamers eyeing the latest releases and a broader selection, the distinction between Xbox Game Pass Standard and Ultimate is now critically clear. A significant number of high-profile titles, including all day-one launches, are now exclusively part of the Ultimate tier. This means subscribers to the $14.99 Standard plan miss out on a formidable list of games that are otherwise accessible through the $19.99 Ultimate package. The shift is substantial, converting what was once a unified access point for first-party titles into a tiered system where premium games are locked behind the higher-priced subscription. This change impacts immediate access to some of the most anticipated and celebrated games in the Xbox ecosystem.
Specifically, a roster of 41 games has been identified as being exclusive to Game Pass Ultimate for new subscribers, creating a notable gap in the Standard library. This list features highly sought-after blockbusters like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, the expansive space RPG Starfield, and the dark fantasy action RPG Diablo 4. Beyond these titans, other prominent titles such as the acclaimed racing simulator Forza Motorsport, the popular sports franchise entry MLB: The Show 24, the critically praised RPG Octopath Traveler 2, and the co-op heist shooter Payday 3 are also confined to the Ultimate tier. This division substantially alters the value proposition for the Standard subscription, which now offers 370 games compared to Ultimate’s 508. The remaining 96 titles that comprise the full 508-game library available to Ultimate members are from the EA Play collection, further emphasizing the extensive content difference. Players seeking the most comprehensive and up-to-date gaming collection will find the Ultimate subscription a necessity, rather than just an upgrade, to fully experience the Xbox Game Pass library.
The implications of this change are clear: gamers who opt for the Xbox Game Pass Standard tier will find themselves without access to these major releases and many others that are part of the premium Ultimate offering. This strategic segmentation underscores Microsoft’s intent to differentiate the value of its various subscription tiers, prompting players to consider the Ultimate package for the fullest gaming experience. Below is a comprehensive list of games that are currently exclusive to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, excluding the separate EA Play library:
- Age of Mythology: Retold Standard Edition
- Another Crab’s Treasure
- Botany Manor
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
- Core Keeper
- Creatures of Ava
- Diablo 4
- Dungeons Of Hinterberg
- Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
- Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
- Flock
- Forza Motorsport
- Galacticare
- Go Mecha Ball
- Harold Halibut
- Hauntii
- Heavy Weapon
- Humanity
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
- Little Kitty, Big City
- Magical Delicacy
- MLB: The Show 24
- Neon White
- Octopath Traveler 2
- Open Roads
- Payday 3
- PlateUp!
- Robin Hood – Sherwood Builders
- Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends
- Sea of Solitude
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
- Slime Rancher 2
- SpiderHeck
- Star Trucker
- Starfield
- Still Wakes the Deep
- Tchia
- The Case of the Golden Idol
- The Rewinder
- Turnip Boy Robs a Bank
- You Suck at Parking Complete Edition
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