The Xbox Game Pass Standard plan is available starting today. Microsoft announced revamped Game Pass subscription plans in July, introducing the Standard option and increasing the price of the Ultimate tier. The Standard plan costs $15 per month and Ultimate costs $20 per month.
The Standard subscription level offers the core features of the Game Pass program: online multiplayer gaming, access to a vast library of games, and discounts on select game purchases. The big difference between Standard and Ultimate is that Standard plan members won’t get to play blockbuster titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on their release day. Standard wait times vary by title, but can be up to 12 months or more. The Ultimate plan also includes EA Play membership and access to Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Xbox has struggled to compete with PlayStation this console generation, in part because of differences in hardware. Microsoft finished refreshing its console lineup disappointingly this summer, while Sony made a big splash with the unveiling of its pricey new PS5 Pro. But Game Pass has also struggled to bring in recurring revenue for Microsoft, with just 34 million subscribers in February.
