The Ultimate Xbox Game Pass Deal Has Taken a Massive Dive!
The once unbeatable value of the Xbox Game Pass deal takes a nosedive, leaving gamers disappointed as Microsoft's recent promo reintroduction fails to live up to its former glory
Highlights
Microsoft's best Xbox Game Pass deal has been downgraded, now only offering a 14-day trial for new subscribers instead of a month.
The conversion ratio for users transitioning from Xbox Live Gold to Game Pass has been amended, as 60 days of Gold now only grants 40 days of Game Pass Ultimate.
This alteration, in addition to a recent surge in prices, signifies the evolution of Microsoft's subscription service.
The $1 introductory offer for the Xbox Game Pass has been reduced from a month-long trial to just 14 days, making it a worse deal. Microsoft had initially ended this promotion in March but decided to bring it back in July. However, there are additional changes as well. The offer is now exclusively for new subscribers, and the conversion ratio for users switching from Xbox Live Gold has been altered from 1:1 to 3:2. As an example, 60 days of Xbox Live Gold now only convert to 40 days of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Microsoft has once again reduced its $1 offer, shortening the duration to only two weeks. This offer applies to both Xbox Game Pass for PC and the Ultimate tier of the service, which originally cost $9.99 and $16.99 per month, respectively. The change was made without any announcement, as is customary for such changes.
This is the second unfortunate news for potential Xbox Game Pass subscribers in the past two months. When the company reintroduced the $1 deal, it also increased the prices for Xbox Game Pass across the board. The console tier, which had never experienced a price increase before, rose from $9.99 to $10.99 per month. Additionally, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now costs $16.99 per month, increasing by $2 from its original price. However, the $9.99-per-month PC-only tier remained unaffected. The revised pricing will be implemented for existing subscribers on August 13th.
The recent devaluation of the best Xbox Game Pass deal may not be favorable for consumers, but it highlights the maturity of Microsoft's subscription service. This move signifies Microsoft's confidence in the ever-growing content library and numerous perks, such as discounts and free games, that the platform offers. It is uncertain whether this change will impact the rate of user acquisition for the platform.
However, Microsoft's gaming service, similar to Netflix, has not been meeting the company's expectations lately. In 2022, Xbox Game Pass failed to meet its subscriber goal for the second consecutive year. It remains to be seen if the service can generate stronger momentum in the future, especially considering the recent weakening of its $1 deal.
