Microsoft has decided to upset his background game from top to bottom. The three formulas gain new new names being Essential, Premium et Ultimate. On paper, everyone wins. The cloud gaming for all, widened catalogs, partnerships with Fortnite and Ubisoft, but when you dig a little …
The Redmond giant has just taken $ 5 billion in annual income with the Game Pass. The company as a whole has an increase of 18 % of its income to reach $ 76.4 billion. What has something to be satisfied, right? Missed. The Ultimate subscription increases to 26.99 euros per month in Europe, an increase of 50 %.
Microsoft explains to us that this increase reflects ” An extended catalog » et « new advantages with our partners ». Translation, we make you pay The addition of Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classicseven if you don’t want it.
Xbox Game Pass
Stab in the back of standard subscribers
The real scandal nestles elsewhere. The old standard game pass, renamed Premium, loses its day one access to Xbox games. You used to discover the new Microsoft productions from their launch for 12.99 euros per month? It’s over.
NOW, We will have to wait until the year afteryear during which it will be necessary to navigate between the spoilers and to see the wealthiest of the players play titles above all the rest. Moreover, Call of Duty will be apparently reserved for subscribers of the Ultimate Formula. The premium formula retains its Price at 12.99 euros, it’s true, but it loses its main sale argument.
Essential, or how to dress a regression in progress
The essential formula, ex-core, goes up to 8.99 euros monthly. An increase of 28 % to access 50 games. The unlimited cloud gaming arrives on this formula, for those interested.
Microsoft Rewards also takes a blow in the wing. You can no longer exchange your points directly for a Game Pass subscription. You must now go through a gift card. An additional step, one more friction. Nothing dramatic, but it is added to a list that begins to weigh heavy.
The risky bet of an elitist strategy
Microsoft plays big with this overhaul. The company bet that players who really want Day One outings will agree to put 27 euros per month on the table And that the others will be satisfied “crumbs” with premium or essential. It is to forget a little quickly that the success of the Game Pass was based on its value for money.
At 17.99 euros, the former ultimate was already expensive, but defensible. At 26.99 euros, we reach heights. Over a year, it’s been 323.88 euros, almost the price of a Next-Gen console for a service that lets you have nothing once you unsubscribe. Even Sony has not (yet) dared with its PS more which is now half the highest in its highest formula than that of M $.
Xbox Game Pass
Current subscribers will have to choose. Pay twice as much to keep their advantages, or Drade towards Premium at half price and lose what made the point of their subscription.
🟣 To not miss any news on the Geek newspaper, subscribe to Google News and on our WhatsApp. And if you love us, .
