Microsoft has officially revealed a significant adjustment to its subscription pricing model for Xbox Game Pass, announcing that certain tiers would see considerable increases in monthly costs. Among the plans most affected are the popular Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and the PC Game Pass options. The Ultimate tier, which remains the company’s flagship subscription due to its broad catalog of titles, exclusive features, and bundled access to the PC Game Pass library, has risen sharply from its prior rate of $19.99 per month to a substantially higher $29.99. Similarly, PC Game Pass subscribers, who previously paid $11.99 per month, will now see their expenses rise to $16.49 as part of the new restructuring.
Anyone who renews or signs up directly through Microsoft’s official retail channels will immediately encounter these higher rates, without exception. At first glance, this suggests subscribers have no choice but to accept the increase. However, that is not entirely true. Savvy customers who intend to remain loyal to the service still have an opportunity to bypass the new charges temporarily by choosing a different method of purchase. Rather than subscribing via Microsoft directly, consumers can take advantage of authorized third-party retailers that continue to sell prepaid codes or time cards at the original, lower rates—at least while their current stock lasts.
For instance, those interested in maintaining access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate without committing to the new pricing can still acquire one-month subscription codes at $19.99 from major retail partners such as Amazon, GameStop, Best Buy, and Walmart. For gamers seeking more value, the three-month option remains available from the same set of retailers for $59.99. When compared to the newly elevated monthly rate, this effectively grants players a month’s worth of access at no additional cost, providing noticeable savings for anyone committed to extended play.
Similarly, PC enthusiasts are not left without alternatives. Although the base monthly fee through Microsoft has climbed, well-known online and brick-and-mortar retailers including Amazon, GameStop, and Best Buy are still marketing a three-month bundle of PC Game Pass subscriptions for just $35.99. This price is consistent with the older structure and therefore represents a significant discount relative to the new official monthly calculation.
In short, even though Microsoft has implemented higher subscription fees for its most sought-after gaming services, careful consumers willing to explore reputable retail partners can continue to enjoy the benefits of Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at their former rates—for now. This makes it essential for dedicated players to act promptly, since once retailers deplete their existing stock of codes priced under the old model, the opportunity to lock in these savings will likely disappear permanently.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/tech/791012/xbox-pc-game-pass-ultimate-how-to-get-old-price
