![[Nintendo Switch] Review of The Operator](https://www.gamerfrontier.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Nintendo-Switch-Review-of-The-Operator-360x180.jpg "[Nintendo Switch] Review of The Operator")
Ever notice how when something seems too good to be true, it usually is? That was definitely the vibe around Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass when the Xbox Series X/S launched. The deal was irresistible—a treasure trove of games, including day-one releases from Microsoft, all for a monthly fee of just ten bucks. It was a gaming paradise at a bargain rate.
Over the years, however, there have been some changes. As global financial strains intensified post-pandemic, the cost slowly crept up. In 2023, the Game Pass for console increased to $11. The Ultimate version, which also offered access to PC games, rose by two bucks to $16.99. Despite these hikes—alongside Microsoft’s jaw-dropping $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard—the increase seemed reasonable, even slightly below inflation.
But then 2024 hit. In July, news broke that Game Pass Ultimate was leaping from $17 to $20—an eye-popping 18% jump, well beyond inflation. The real kicker? Microsoft axed the $11 console-only tier, replacing it with a new Standard tier priced at $15, which no longer featured day-one game releases. Ouch—nearly a 50% price increase for a downgraded deal.
For those who loved tapping into the full Game Pass library, particularly for brand-new Microsoft games, the cost ballooned from $11 to $20 monthly. And this time around, the colossal Activision Blizzard acquisition really felt like it played a role.
By 2024, Game Pass transformed from one of gaming’s best bargains into a pricey commitment, hitting $240 annually without any discount for yearly subscribers. It’s a move that stings. – John Walker
