As Microsoft has made their Xbox Game Pass the focus of their gaming division, they’ve done all they’ve could to increase the value of the service to allow its growth (and those that subscribe to it have apparently partaken). Now it seems, if rumors are to be believed, Microsoft is working hard to add even more value to the service with a new partner.
VentureBeat’s Jeff Grubb spoke on the GamesBeat Decides podcast recently about some moves behind the scenes from Microsoft. He said they’ve been working with Ubisoft to get some kind of deal to bring Ubisoft Plus to the service in some form. If you’re unfamiliar, this is Ubisoft’s subscription service that launched in 2019 as Uplay Plus originally because the company dropped the Uplay branding. He said he was unsure of how this would happen or even where the negotiations were, but just that Microsoft is trying to get the publisher on board (thanks to Pure Xbox for transcribing the below).
“I think it’s Ubisoft Plus, yes. I think it’s that part. I’m not for sure, but that’s my understanding, is that they’re trying to make that happen.
“What that looks like, if they’re adding another $5 thing into [Xbox Game Pass] Ultimate or if there’s going to be tiers to get all these things involved, I honestly don’t know – that is me speculating. But, I do think they are trying to figure out a way to bring Ubisoft Plus in. I think that’d be a pretty big deal.”
Microsoft brokered a similar deal with EA to bring EA Play to the service, though Ubisoft Plus would most likely be different. While EA Play started at $4.99, Ubisoft Plus starts at $14.99. So it as a paid add on to the service is probably more likely overall, but at this point, who knows. We’ll see if anything comes from this as time goes on.
