Microsoft could increase the price of Xbox subscriptions in most countries, but that sweetens the deal for newcomers. The company is once again run a promo which offers the first month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $1. The PC Game Pass is also discounted to $1. You’ll then have to pay the usual monthly fee ($17 for Ultimate on console, $11 for PC), but the introductory price might help you get a feel for the services without fully committing.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes a catalog of “hundreds” of games that you can play on console, PC and via cloud gaming. First-party titles arrive as soon as they launch, and there are member-only benefits that include discounts, in-game DLC, and a handful of EA games. PC Game Pass does not include streaming or EA selection but is otherwise similar.
This comes just weeks after Microsoft raised the price of Game Pass Ultimate for new subscribers from $15 to $17. It’s the first time the price has increased since Ultimate launched in 2017. Microsoft attributes the increase to changing “competitive conditions,” but it’s also a reflection of an evolving strategy. Microsoft and rival Sony are increasingly dependent on subscriptions for revenue, and the rise of Game Pass Ultimate could help on that front.
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