Xbox Game Pass Subscribers Don’t Think Recent Additions Justify the Price Hike

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Many Xbox Game Pass subscribers are unhappy with recent changes, particularly the price increase for the Ultimate tier from $20 to $30 a month. Microsoft initially faced criticism for limiting most new game releases to the more expensive Ultimate tier, and the price increase has added to subscriber frustration.

While Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $30 a month, dedicated users generally find it to be a good value. Players who previously paid for the Fortnite Crew subscription actually save money now that those perks are included with Game Pass Ultimate. However, some subscribers feel the $30 monthly fee is too high and have canceled their subscriptions. To retain members, Microsoft needs to consistently add compelling, high-quality games, but some fans believe they aren’t doing enough.

Xbox Game Pass Subscribers Aren’t Happy About the Latest Games

A Reddit user named ZTK94 criticized the recent additions to Game Pass Ultimate, including games like Bratz: Rhythm & Style, Mortal Kombat 1, Ultimate Sheep Raccoon, and A Game About Digging a Hole. The post has received over 1,000 upvotes, suggesting many subscribers feel it’s unreasonable for Microsoft to increase the price of the service while offering these specific games. To make matters worse, subscribers unhappy with the current selection shouldn’t expect any new games to be added to Game Pass for the remainder of the year.

Okay, so some of the recent Game Pass additions haven’t been amazing, but honestly, 2025 has been a fantastic year for the service. Getting Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Game of the Year – on day one was huge, and then Blue Prince dropped too, with the same awesome 92 Metacritic score! As a Game Pass Ultimate member, I’ve also been able to play big titles like Doom: The Dark Ages, Ninja Gaiden 4, The Outer Worlds 2, and even Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 this year – and that’s just scratching the surface!

Xbox Game Pass Has Big Plans for 2026

Currently, only five Xbox Game Pass games have confirmed release dates for 2026. Two games are launching in January: the Metroidvania Mio: Memories in Orbit will be available on Game Pass on January 20th, and Nova Roma is coming to PC on January 22nd. Menace will be added on February 5th, followed by the comedy FPS High on Life 2 on February 13th. Lastly, fans can look forward to Replaced, which is finally joining Game Pass on March 12th.

The recently announced games are just a small preview of what’s coming to Game Pass in 2026. Microsoft plans to release several major titles next year, including the reboot of Fable, a remake of Halo, Forza Horizon 6, and Gears of War: E-Day, all to celebrate Xbox’s 25th anniversary. Plus, over 75 new games will be available on Game Pass Ultimate from day one, giving subscribers a lot to enjoy. Whether these new additions make the recent price increase worthwhile will depend on individual preferences.

If you’re trying to save money on Game Pass, or don’t want to pay for Ultimate all the time, consider only subscribing when a game you’re excited about is released. Sign up, play the game, and then cancel your subscription. This lets you enjoy the benefits of Game Pass Ultimate without paying the higher price when you’re not actively using it.

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2025-12-19 02:04