Microsoft Has Discontinued Game Pass’ Introductory $1 Price Point

Pretty much since the day it was introduced, Game Pass has been one of the best and most valuable deals in gaming, and it’s no surprise that Microsoft has made it a central part of its Xbox strategy. And while its impressive catalog of games and day one releases will undoubtedly continue to be hugely attractive, its newest pricing changes are unlikely to go down well with potential subscribers.

Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – the service’s higher tier which bundles together Xbox and PC Game Pass along with EA Play Live – have long been allowing new subscribers to subscribe for a one-time introductory price of just $1, with subsequent months reverting to the service’s regular pricing model.

Going forward, however, that introductory price will no longer be available, and regardless of whether you’re a new subscriber or not, you’ll be required to pay the monthly price of either $9.99 (for Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass) or $14.99 (for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate).

“We have stopped our previous introductory offer for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass and are evaluating different marketing promotions for new members in the future,” Xbox’s head of global communications, Kari Perez, said in a statement to The Verge.

Exactly what these new marketing promotions will end up being remains to be seen, though given how pivotal the service is to Microsoft’s gaming strategy, one would assume that the company will want to introduce new offers in the near future.

Game Pass’ pricing and potential changes have been a price of contention for some of late, especially in the context of Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, though the company has assured that should the acquisition go through, it will not result in prices for the service being increased. Read more on that through here.