Xbox Game Pass Faces Backlash After Price Hike and Day-One Game Cuts

In a surprising — and for many, disappointing — move, Microsoft announced a significant restructuring of its Xbox Game Pass subscription service on Wednesday, sparking backlash from players and industry observers alike. The changes include a price increase across all tiers and the removal of day-one access to major first-party titles for lower-tier subscribers.

Effective next month, the standard Xbox Game Pass for console will increase its monthly cost by $2, rising to $12.99 in the U.S. Meanwhile, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate — the flagship tier that includes PC access, cloud gaming, and Xbox Live Gold features — will jump from $16.99 to $19.99. PC Game Pass also sees a price bump, although it will remain the only tier to retain day-one access to new Xbox Game Studios releases.

One of the most divisive parts of the overhaul is the introduction of a new “Xbox Game Pass Standard” tier. At $14.99 per month, this tier removes access to day-one releases, a feature that has become synonymous with the Game Pass model and a major draw for subscribers. Going forward, only Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers will receive new first-party titles on release day — a stark shift from Microsoft’s previous approach of offering parity across platforms.

Gamers took to social media in droves to express frustration. Some called the changes “a betrayal” of the value proposition that made Game Pass a breakout success over the past five years. “The day-one games were the entire reason I stuck with Ultimate,” one user lamented on Reddit. Influencers and industry analysts echoed the sentiment, with many pointing to the changes as potentially jeopardizing Game Pass’s goodwill and market momentum.

Microsoft has yet to release an official statement beyond the pricing FAQ posted on its website. However, with flagship titles like *Avowed* and *Fable* still on the horizon, many are wondering whether fan discontent could impact the subscription numbers in the long run — and if Microsoft may ultimately walk back some of the more controversial aspects of this update.