Xbox Game Pass could let you pick which features you pay for
Microsoft is reportedly planning to let subscribers build their own Game Pass bundle rather than pay for set tiers.
Xbox has been in a constant state of flux under new leadership. The Microsoft gaming division has gone through restructuring, studio sales and tweaks to its core products and services, and bigger changes are reportedly on the way. The company is apparently revamping its Game Pass subscription to make it much more flexible.
Game Pass offers a host of benefits including online multiplayer and a rotating library of games, but Xbox's next move is reportedly to let subscribers pick and choose the features they want, rather than pay for a preset bundle. The change could make the subscription service more appealing and affordable for newcomers and existing customers alike.
Game Pass' existing tiers
Following a price hike, Xbox announced adjustments to Game Pass Ultimate, its most expensive subscription tier. As of now, the subscription tiers break down into several distinct options.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($23/month): A library of over 500 games, day-one releases, bundled Fortnite Crew, EA Play and Ubisoft+ Classics subscriptions, online multiplayer and up to 15 hours of game streaming.
Xbox Game Pass Premium ($15/month): A library of over 200 games, online multiplayer and up to 10 hours of game streaming.
Xbox Game Pass Essential ($10/month): A library of over 50 games, online multiplayer and up to five hours of game streaming.
PC Game Pass ($14/month): A library of over 300 PC games, day-one releases and a bundled EA Play subscription.
Xbox previously offered online multiplayer games through an Xbox Live Gold subscription, but retired that option when folding the benefit into the tier now called Essential.
The possible build-your-own Game Pass future
Reports indicate that Xbox eventually hopes to offer a more flexible version of Game Pass where users can effectively decide what packages of content they want to see as part of their plan. For example, the new version of the service could allow you to drop access to bundled subscriptions to lower the price.
The concept points to a broader strategy to let users pick the specific features they want to include in their subscription.
Xbox is planning a major overhaul of Game Pass that would have players choose features à la carte, including add-ons for console-only games, cloud gaming, and multiplayer, operating on a tiered structure according to people familiar with the strategy.
How that will work in practice remains to be seen, but Xbox is clearly open to offering customers more ways to pay for its services as the cost of games and hardware continues to rise.
