Microsoft’s Updating Xbox Game Pass Branding – Updated

For the past few weeks, we have seen a few changes to Xbox Live and now we can add Xbox Game Pass to the equation. Microsoft announced today a subtle, but important change.

The company is rebranding Xbox Game Pass to simply Game Pass. This move distances the companies Game Pass subscription from being explicitly tied to its gaming console. The company is also changing Xbox Game Pass for PC to simply Game Pass for PC.

While this is a minor update, this may be the start of a bigger transition for Microsoft. The company recently removed Xbox Live pre-paid cards for 12 months from its website and many, myself included, believe that this is the start of phasing out Xbox Live Gold.

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What will be replacing Xbox Live Gold? The logical conclusion is that GamePass will be the new way that you pay for online services from Microsoft. Does this mean that you will need to subscribe to GamePass instead of Live Gold?

Possibly, but keep in mind, Xbox Live Gold is $9.99 a month before discounts and GamePass is also $9.99 a month as well. Ultimate, which will include xCloud when it is publicly available, is $14.99 a month and also includes Games Pass on PC too. The point here is that this likely won’t cut out a significant amount of revenue from users migrating to the updated service.

Microsoft also recently announced that Halo Infinite’s multiplayer will be free too. This is likely more evidence pointing to the fact that you may no longer need Xbox Live Gold to play online in the near future.

[Update ]Microsoft has sent over the following statement: “Xbox recently revealed a redesigned logo for Xbox Game Pass. While the logo is new, there have been no changes to the name of the service, it remains Xbox Game Pass

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Conversation 9 comments

  • madthinus

    Premium Member
    01 August, 2020 - 1:53 pm

    <p>I fear this future where multiplayer is open to all. Having a subscription formed a bit of a barrier and incentive to be good. Being banned had real effects.</p>

    • Stokkolm

      01 August, 2020 - 3:19 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#558407">In reply to madthinus:</a></em></blockquote><p>An Xbox account is still required. I don't see how any barrier is removed at all. People can still be banned.</p>

      • beckoningeagle

        Premium Member
        02 August, 2020 - 12:32 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#558423">In reply to Stokkolm:</a></em></blockquote><p>I would guess that the barrier comes from the fact that paying for fake accounts in order to bypass the ban would get expensive over time </p>

  • tripleplayed

    01 August, 2020 - 2:24 pm

    <p>But will they be dropping the online paywall completely or will they just make you pay for game pass to play online? </p>

  • Calibr21

    01 August, 2020 - 7:36 pm

    <p>Multiplayer online has to be free going forward. They can't tie it to GamePass. If it costs $120/yr to play games online with Xbox, Sony will crucify MS in marketing since PS Plus is $60/year.</p>

  • gregsedwards

    Premium Member
    01 August, 2020 - 11:36 pm

    <p>I've said it before and I'll say it again, Microsoft desperately needs to come up with a sensible family sharing option for Xbox content and subscriptions. Paying $9.99 per month for my own XBLG is bad enough, but twice more for my two sons' accounts, so they can play Fortnite head-to-head is ludicrous. </p>

  • bluvg

    01 August, 2020 - 11:37 pm

    <p>Hmm… if they drop Gold, what happens to the folks that don't want GamePass and all their games they have via Games with Gold? </p>

  • waethorn

    02 August, 2020 - 4:39 pm

    <p>Great. Can we have the Xbox apps on Windows 10 made optional and removable now? I see Xbox Game Bar at odd times spiking the CPU usage – on client's business PC's where it shouldn't belong.</p>

  • zhackwyatt

    Premium Member
    03 August, 2020 - 7:47 pm

    <p>I never bought an Xbox One because the Xbox 360 has kept me entertained. I have a large backlog of games on that machine. I wonder if this is the beginning of shutting down its online services as its never heard of Game Pass.</p><p><br></p><p> Does Game Pass eliminate ads from dashboard? Games with gold are obviously going away. I wonder how many people still actively play the 360.</p>

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