Microsoft is revamping its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription with changes to the pricing structure and how it works. Come September, a new Xbox Game Pass “Standard” subscription will launch that doesn’t include any day-one access to Xbox first-party games.
Alongside the new Standard tier, Microsoft is also raising the price of the service to $19,99 a month. This is a $3 increase over the current changes. In South Africa, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is increasing from R129 to R199 per month. PC Game Pass is increasing from R79 to R119.
South Africa is also one of the regions that offers Xbox Game Pass Core for 3 and 6 months. That service is also going up from R79 to R99 per month. Here’s a complete breakdown of the new prices:
Xbox Game Pass South Africa
- Xbox Game Pass
- Monthly – R199 (was R129)
- Xbox Game Pass Core
- 1 Month – R99 (was R79)
- 3 Month – R249 (was R199)
- 6 Month – R399 (was R319)
- 12 Month – R799 (was R479)
- PC Game Pass
- 1 Month – R199 (was R79)
These new prices will go into effect on 12 September across all regions.
Later this year Xbox Game Pass will add the new Standard subscription tier to the existing Ultimate and PC Game Pass offerings. The new Standard tier will exclude day-one titles meaning you won’t be able to play the likes of DOOM: Dark Ages, Avowed and other first-party games releasing in the months ahead.
Xbox Game Pass Standard will include online console multiplayer access and can be stacked for up to 13 months at a time. The new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier is priced at $14,99. We don’t have the local pricing for this tier just yet but it will likely cost around R149 – R169.
Microsoft says the new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier will launch “in the coming months”. Given the price hike coming into effect in September, we will likely see it drop then.
For now, Microsoft has removed the existing Xbox Game Pass for console subscriptions. Current subscribers will still have access to the service. However, if it expires or you are new to the service, you’ll need to choose from one of the new plans on Game Pass. This means either subscribing to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Game Pass Core. You’ll be able to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Standard once it becomes available.
To summarize each tier of Xbox Game Pass:
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – R199pm
- Day one releases
- Hundreds of high-quality on console and PC
- Online console multiplayer
- Member deals and discounts
- EA Play Membership
- Cloud gaming on multiple devices
- Free perks every month
- Xbox Game Pass Standard – $14,99 (TBC)
- Hundreds of high-quality games on console
- Online console multiplayer
- Member deals and discounts
- Xbox Game Pass Core – R99pm
- 25+ high-quality games on console
- Online console multiplayer
- Member deals and discounts
