Microsoft may be raising the price of Xbox subscriptions in most countries, but it’s sweetening the deal for newcomers. The company is once again running a promo offering the first month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $1. PC Game Pass is also discounted to $1. You’ll have to pay the usual monthly rate afterwards ($17 for Ultimate on console, $11 for PC), but the introductory price will help you get a feel for the services without making a full commitment.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes a catalog of “hundreds” of games that you can play on console, PC and through cloud gaming. First-party titles come as soon as they launch, and there are member-only perks that include discounts, in-game DLC and some EA games. PC Game Pass does not include streaming or EA’s selection but is otherwise the same.
This comes just weeks after Microsoft raised the price of Game Pass Ultimate for new subscribers from $15 to $17. This is the first time that the price has increased since the Ultimate debut in 2017. Microsoft emphasizes the development of changing “competitive conditions,” but it is also a reflection of an evolving strategy. Microsoft and its rival Sony are increasingly dependent on subscriptions for revenue, and the hike in Game Pass Ultimate will help on that front.
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