Microsoft raised prices for Xbox Game Pass and introduced a new “Standard” tier for the gaming subscription service earlier this month, but more changes to Game Pass could be on the way. The Xbox parent company is reportedly working on additional new Game Pass tiers. These could include a cloud-only subscription tier, an ad-supported tier and a friends and family subscription.
New Xbox Game Pass Tiers Planned
Cite sources, Windows Central claims that Microsoft has further plans for its gaming subscription service. A version of Game Pass that would allow players on devices outside the Xbox ecosystem to access the service’s catalog of games is reportedly in the works. This tier would be cheaper than Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and could also be available on competing console platforms.
Additionally, citing “very tentative” rumors, the report says that Microsoft could bring back the Xbox Game Pass Friends and Family plan, which was previously tested in select regions but never rolled out broadly. This plan would cater to multiple users in a household, similar to family plans from other subscription services.
And finally, the report also talks about an ad-supported Game Pass tier, similar to the ad-based tiers for Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. This tier would reportedly be intended for players who don’t want to pay a subscription fee for Game Pass and would instead get access to an ad-based version of the service for free. This was also reported last year, when a publication reported that Xbox Gaming CFO Tim Stuart had proposed a free version of the subscription service that was supported by ads.
More recently, Microsoft launched the Xbox cloud gaming service on the Xbox app on Amazon Fire TV Stick. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers now have access to the platform’s cloud gaming service to play Xbox titles on the Amazon Fire TV Stick, without the need for a dedicated Xbox console.
Call of Duty on Game Pass
Microsoft’s decision to raise Game Pass prices across all tiers and territories comes weeks after the company announced that the next installment in the hugely lucrative Call of Duty franchise would be available on Xbox’s subscription game service at launch. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, releasing on October 25, will be the first COD title available on Game Pass at launch.
The company is also reportedly planning to add the most recent Call of Duty title, last year’s Modern Warfare 3 (reviewed), in late July. However, Microsoft and Call of Duty creator Activision have yet to confirm plans to bring the game to the service.
