Game Pass Standard, a new midrange In the ever-expanding menu of options on the Netflix-like subscription service, some games that reach higher tiers on day one will be unavailable for a year or more, Microsoft announced today, with the cheaper version entering preview mode for Xbox Insiders for $1 ahead of its official launch in September.
Microsoft shared this warning in a new summary of the program Xbox Wire blogThe preview is rolling out today to players who are members of the Xbox Insiders initiative, with more games being added to the Game Pass Standard library throughout the preview period. So while we don’t yet know exactly what games will be included in this tier of the program at launch, players should get a better idea in the coming days and weeks.
But the biggest question is how long it will take for new games to be added to Standard. Microsoft announced earlier this summer Game Pass was increasing the price of Ultimate and creating a new tier called Standard that won't get the big games that came to Game Pass on day one has been one of the service's biggest selling points since its inception. So while Standard is $15 a month instead of Ultimate's $20 a month, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle or The Devil IV'S Ship of Hate Expansion the day they come out.
“Some games coming to Game Pass Ultimate (day one games or other game entries) will not be immediately available with Game Pass Standard and may be added to the library at a later date (up to 12 months or more and varies by title),” senior community lead Megan Spurr wrote on Xbox Wire today. “We'll continue to share with all Game Pass members when games are added and playable for each plan.”
It's unclear whether this waiting period will be announced for each game before launch, or if it will be its own mysterious exclusivity period that fans will have to speculate on when deciding whether and when to subscribe to Standard and Ultimate. It's also possible that third-party day-and-date games, such as Frozenpunk 2both tiers can have widely varying launches. Pardon the pun, but that sounds a long way from “standard.”
This big change in Game Pass, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6Set to release in October, it's the first entry in the hit multiplayer shooter series to be released day and date on a subscription gaming service, and is likely to be the best-selling game ever to appear on Game Pass. That's a stark contrast to the game Xbox owners were able to play last year. Star Field for just $11 for one month since its launch. Its upcoming expansion, Shattered Spacewill now require a $20 monthly subscription.