The website crashed for a couple of hours as players scrambled to cancel their subscriptions.
Sweeping changes are coming to Xbox Game Pass, including a 50 percent price hike for its top tier. The announcement was made via Xbox Wire, Microsoft’s official news site, on Thursday (2 October). The move is being positioned as part of a broader refresh of Xbox Game Pass, with Microsoft adding more games, cloud access, and new perks across its three main subscription tiers, but also lifts Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from US$19.99 to US$29.99 per month.
Xbox site crashes as players rush to cancel
The announcement triggered a wave of cancellations, but many subscribers reported running into technical problems. According to a report by The Gamer, Users across social media shared that the Xbox Game Pass cancellation page was either running extremely slowly or crashing altogether. The surge in traffic is thought to have overwhelmed Microsoft’s systems, leaving frustrated players struggling to exit the service.
Essential, Premium, and Ultimate replace existing tiers
Alongside the price changes, Microsoft is rebranding its subscription tiers. Xbox Game Pass Core is now Xbox Game Pass Essential, while the Standard plan becomes Xbox Game Pass Premium.
Each tier now includes access to PC games and unlimited cloud gaming, features that were previously reserved for higher-priced options. Existing Core and Standard members will be automatically upgraded to the new plans.
Ultimate adds Ubisoft and Fortnite perks
Microsoft is bolstering Ultimate with new additions. The tier now includes over 400 games globally, with 45 new titles added immediately, including Hogwarts Legacy and multiple Assassin’s Creed entries.
Subscribers will also gain access to Ubisoft Plus Classics across console, PC, and cloud. From 18 November, Fortnite Crew becomes part of Ultimate, bundling in the Fortnite Battle Pass, 1,000 V-Bucks each month, and additional content.
Cloud gaming is leaving beta for Ultimate members, with improvements such as 1440p support and higher bitrates on select devices. Microsoft has also revamped its rewards system, allowing Ultimate users to earn up to US$100 annually in store credit simply by playing.
Premium expands with PC titles and cloud access
Priced at US$14.99 a month, Premium now offers over 200 games across both Xbox and PC for the first time. This includes major releases like Diablo IV and Hogwarts Legacy.
Premium subscribers also get unlimited access to Xbox Cloud Gaming, in-game perks previously exclusive to Ultimate, and the ability to earn up to US$50 in annual rewards. Microsoft says its own first-party titles, with the exception of Call of Duty, will be added to Premium within a year of release.
Essential doubles its library
Essential remains at US$9.99 per month but sees its library expand from around 25 titles to more than 50. Subscribers also get PC access, cloud gaming, and in-game rewards. The rewards system allows Essential users to earn up to US$25 a year.
PC Game Pass also gets more expensive
PC Game Pass is not exempt from the overhaul. The monthly fee rises from US$11.99 to US$16.49, nearly a 40 percent increase. Unlike the console tiers, PC players are not receiving Ubisoft Plus Classics, though Microsoft is adding about 50 Ubisoft titles to the library.
Wider price hikes across Xbox
The subscription increases arrive as Microsoft makes other pricing adjustments. The Xbox Series X console is set to rise by US$150 in the US this week, while the upcoming Asus-made Xbox Ally X handheld will launch at US$999.99.
“We understand price increases are never fun for anybody, but we’re trying to reinforce by adding more value to these plans as well,” said Dustin Blackwell, Microsoft’s director of gaming and platform communications.
