Microsoft is considering a major enhancement for its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The tech giant might bundle various premium services into its $30 subscription tier, perhaps including offerings like World of Warcraft and Minecraft Realms.
Exploring New Bundles for Gamers
the conversation began with insights from Tom Warren at The Verge, who pointed out that Microsoft is in the early stages of expanding its Game Pass offerings. Jez Corden later elaborated on this, suggesting that Microsoft is particularly interested in integrating these additional subscriptions into the Ultimate plan. While nothing has been officially confirmed yet, if this change occurs, it could explain the recent price increase.
Potential Additions to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Several names have surfaced regarding possible new services. These include World of Warcraft’s monthly fee, Fallout 1st for private servers and extra stash space in Fallout 76, Minecraft Realms for persistent friend worlds, and whatever premium tier exists for The Elder Scrolls. Currently, subscribers pay separately for these services on top of their Game Pass fees.
If bundled together under the Ultimate plan, those individual charges would disappear. This shift could be financially beneficial if you already subscribe to one or more of these services. corden made a compelling argument in his video; at $30 per month, combining all these extras makes the top-tier subscription an obvious choice for dedicated players.
Why Now Is the Time for Change?
The recent introduction of the $30 price point hasn’t been met with universal approval. Some users have raised concerns about whether Ultimate provides enough value compared to the standard tier.By incorporating actual paid services into this package, Microsoft directly addresses those concerns.
This move aligns perfectly with Microsoft's ongoing strategy as well. With ownership over Activision Blizzard and Bethesda now secured, subscriptions like World of Warcraft and ESO Plus memberships are already part of their ecosystem.including them within Game Pass simplifies choices; players won’t need to decide whether to renew their WoW subscription—it will simply be included as part of what they already pay.
The games available also make a strong case for consideration. Titles such as outer Worlds 2, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and South of Midnight have all launched on day one through this service.
What Lies Ahead?
This idea remains speculative at this stage; Corden emphasized that he heard about Microsoft's exploration without any guarantees it will come to fruition soon—if at all.
However, it does seem logical given Microsoft's years-long investment in building up subscriptions across various platforms. Merging them into one comprehensive package feels like a natural progression toward simplifying user experience while maximizing value.
If you currently pay extra fees for any related services or games mentioned above—keep an eye on your payment methods! The upcoming changes might just save you some money by consolidating those recurring charges under one umbrella!
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