The introduction ofXbox Game Passin 2017 stands as one of the most important moments in Microsoft’s history, with the subscription service growing exponentially over the years to cover PC, Cloud streaming, and more. All the while, it changed how a lot of major content is delivered across the gaming industry. While Xbox Game Pass is incredibly popular, this has not stopped controversy from surrounding the service every once in a while.
The Rumored Xbox Game Pass Price Increase Almost Seems Inevitable
These rumors stem from uncovered strings of code that currently exist within the official Xbox website, specifically code that sets up an upcomingnotification for a “subscription price increase"that will seemingly go live in the near future. Nothing has been discovered regarding the cost of this increase, when this increase is going live, or if this increase is going live. After all, this could be a future-proofed code for whenever it does happen, but the fact that a notification is needed would imply that a price increase is coming. It could, in theory, be something else entirely.
The Xbox platform has become defined by the growing presence of Game Pass, with the monthly subscription service currently offering players access to over 400 games on consoles alone. More specifically, it seems that Game Pass has become the place for Microsoft to bear the fruits of its acquisitions. Its record-setting $69 billion takeover of Activision saw the likes ofCall of Duty: Black Ops 6come to Game Pass as a day-one addition. Fans can expect bigger games on the service in the future as well.
Other recent and upcoming titles likeDoom: The Dark Ages,Oblivion Remastered,Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, andGears of War: Reloadedare also day-one Game Pass titles.
The Writing Has Been on the Wall for an Xbox Game Pass Price Hike
It remains to be seen what another round of price increases for Game Pass will look like exactly, but it is safe to assume that the changes may look somewhat similar to 2024’s price jumps. The rumors about an impending price change to Xbox Game Pass are only strengthened by the recent major cost increases seen across other Xbox hardware, with allXbox series X/S consoles, controllers, and headsets getting significant price bumpsin May 2025.
More recently, a lot of discussion has been had around the future price of Xbox titles, withThe Outer Worlds 2setting a new standard for future AAA Xbox releases with its $79.99 base-level price tag. This $80 price tag for new releases has been echoed elsewhere in the industry, with Xbox seemingly following suit onNintendo’s pricing for titles likeMario Kart Worldfor the Switch 2, which itself has drawn a lot of criticism. While the rumored Xbox Game Pass price increase is not confirmed, it is clear to see why some fans are already worried about the prospect of the service becoming even more expensive in the not-so-distant future.
