Microsoft has changed the rules for Game Pass subscriptions

Microsoft has revised the Game Pass system: it’s now divided into three categories – Essential, Premium, and Ultimate. All variants work on PC, consoles, and in the cloud, but the content available is very different.

The new subscription structure should make it easier for players to choose, but prices have gone up. Essential costs $10 a month, Premium is $15 and Ultimate is $30. And the full package, which Microsoft promised at the launch of Game Pass, is retained only for owners of the Ultimate plan.

At the same time, the full package, which Microsoft promised at the launch of Game Pass, is retained only for owners of the Ultimate plan.

For $30 a month, subscribers get Xbox games on release day, access to the Ubisoft+ and EA Play libraries, and a Fortnite Crew subscription. The bundle includes all Microsoft Studios projects, including future releases, and some third-party new releases.

Subscribers will get access to all Xbox games on release day, including Ubisoft+ and EA Play libraries.

The Premium and Essential bundles are more modest. In particular, Ubisoft+ and EA Play disappear from Premium, and Xbox games don’t become available until a year after release. In addition, the terms and conditions specify that Call of Duty is not included in the program and will be distributed on different terms.

So Game Pass remains a universal subscription for players, but its value now depends on the tier you choose. To get the full range of features, you’ll have to pay twice as much as you did before.