Xbox Game Pass Just Got More Expensive

In an official press release, the American video game publisher stated that “creator participation and player engagement in Game Pass are at an all-time high. But we have the opportunity for Game Pass to help more players find the creators and games they love.”

Current Game Pass Core subscribers will automatically be moved to the Essential plan, and Standard subscribers will be moved to Premium. Ultimate subscribers will remain in the Ultimate tier, with a notable price hike. Despite continued success, Game Pass seems to be continuing the economic trends of other streaming services, with the most expensive plan now being three times the price compared to when it originally launched in 2017. 

While not mentioned in the press release, there has been an ongoing call by BDS to boycott any and all Microsoft Gaming related products, including Xbox Game Pass, due to Microsoft’s ongoing complicity in Israel’s occupation of Palestine, and the role the company’s technology has played in Israel’s two-year offensive in Gaza. While it is unclear at this time if the boycott significantly impacted the decision for these price changes to Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft did recently block Israel’s use of their mass surveillance technology due to pressure from employees and investors. 

For anyone frustrated with greedy company business practices, this price increase may come as a slap in the face. For those who have been advocating for the BDS boycott, these changes to Game Pass may come as a sign that the continued pressure is working.