Xbox Game Pass Standard is Now Available

Today, Microsoft is launching its controversial Xbox Game Pass Standard subscription as a replacement for Xbox Game Pass.

“Xbox Game Pass Standard brings together features that players love about Game Pass for Console and Game Pass Core, while providing an additional option when you are deciding which plan is right for you,” vice president of Xbox marketing Chris Lee said. “Providing options to you is important, which is why Game Pass has several options to choose from.”

Xbox Game Pass Standard has a short but interesting history. Microsoft never officially announced this offering; instead it detailed the new subscription in July along with various price increases and other changes across the Game Pass family of services via a support page online. Key among those changes is that Xbox Game Pass has been discontinued, and so this new offering seems to answer more problems for Microsoft than it does for Xbox fans It doesn’t offer day one access to Microsoft Studio console game releases like its predecessor, so it lacks that key selling point that made Xbox Game Pass so popular. Game Pass Standard also doesn’t include EA Play library access, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Game Pass perks and quests, and discounts on games in the Game Pass library.

But as Mr. Lee notes, Game Pass Standard isn’t all bad, and this Xbox console-only offering does offer some useful perks to justify its $14.99 monthly fee. It provides all the features from Game Pass Core–a $9.99 per month subscription that provides access to a curated library of 25 console game titles, online console multiplayer capabilities, and up to a 50 percent discount off purchased games–but expands that game library to some hundreds of console titles.

And Microsoft’s other two Game Pass subscriptions are still available, albeit at higher prices. PC Game Pass costs $11.99 per month and provides Windows gamers with access to a library of hundreds of PC games, new Microsoft Studio game releases on day one, member deals and discounts, and EA Play access. And Game Pass Ultimate now costs $19.99 and provides everything in PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard, plus day one access to Microsoft Studio titles, member deals, discounts, perks, and exclusive offers, EA Play, and the Xbox Cloud Gaming game streaming service.

You can learn more about these Game Pass subscriptions and what each offers on the Xbox website. You can also learn more about Game Pass Standard specifically on the Xbox Support website.