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[ChorizoPicozo]

Gamepass never took off like they had hoped so now they are just trying to run everyone off and justify killing it all together

Just my 2 cents

That's a bit too generous. I think the fact of the matter has always been that Game Pass never made any financial sense, and they are trying to make money out of it. And this is what needs to be done.... (which will not be enough)

 

[GHG]

Not really. Ad tier is actually more lucrative for Netflix, even more than their Premium tiers. It's not only the fastest growing tier as everyone wants cheaper tiers but ends up making more money for Netflix. Ads sold at premium to a captured audience.

There's a gap in the Gamepass tiers for $20, and $25 price points. Could be perfectly positioned for Ad supported tiers. I expect Premium to go up to $18 month, eventually $20, and ad supported Premium for $15. And an ad supported Ultimate for $25 month.

Wait... You guys would be willing to pay for the privilege of ads popping up every 15/20 minutes in your rented games?

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Not really. Ad tier is actually more lucrative for Netflix, even more than their Premium tiers. It's not only the fastest growing tier as everyone wants cheaper tiers but ends up making more money for Netflix. Ads sold at premium to a captured audience.

There's a gap in the Gamepass tiers for $20, and $25 price points. Could be perfectly positioned for Ad supported tiers. I expect Premium to go up to $18 month, eventually $20, and ad supported Premium for $15. And an ad supported Ultimate for $25 month.

it will not be enough

 

[Topher]

Not really. Ad tier is actually more lucrative for Netflix, even more than their Premium tiers. It's not only the fastest growing tier as everyone wants cheaper tiers but ends up making more money for Netflix. Ads sold at premium to a captured audience.

There's a gap in the Gamepass tiers for $20, and $25 price points. Could be perfectly positioned for Ad supported tiers. I expect Premium to go up to $18 month, eventually $20, and ad supported Premium for $15. And an ad supported Ultimate for $25 month.

 

[mayham2199]

You know you've lost the plot when all the loyal soldiers start questioning your decisions. I'm sure they'll get new talking points soon enough.

I bowed out of PS+ Premium a while ago as well. These things are not even close to being worth it anymore.

This is hillarious though

Yea I'm on the lowest tier for PS. Technically there are a few games on there that would add up to enough to be worth it and that I have no desire to ever replay once I finish them. The issue is I just don't care I have to much to play and I don't feel like playing those games. Maybe I'll sign up towards the end of my sub when it's like $10 and plow through a few of those games and then drop back down. Y's 9, The man who erased his name, and Jedi survivor are the games. Maybe they'll get more by the time I sign back up.

 

[mayham2199]

That's a bit too generous. I think the fact of the matter has always been that Game Pass never made any financial sense, and they are trying to make money out of it. And this is what needs to be done.... (which will not be enough)

I think you're both right in a way. I think they needed to raise it to this price to have it make sense but if it runs everyone off to lower tiers and away from day 1 games then they will be fine with that outcome to.

 

[GHG]

The biggest mistake that they made in the first place was thinking there were enough parallels between videogames and passive media entertainment to justify the business model for gamepass.

I guess we are still yet to see it's final form.

 

[Topher]

Wait... You guys would be willing to pay for the privilege of ads popping up every 15/20 minutes in your rented games?

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

I think you're both right in a way. I think they needed to raise it to this price to have it make sense but if it runs everyone off to lower tiers and away from day 1 games then they will be fine with that outcome to.

You will need like twice the amount of subscribers to compensate for the loss of Ultimate subs.I think there is not big strategy, this is a case of the need and pressure to make actual money

 

[Tobimacoss]

Wait... You guys would be willing to pay for the privilege of ads popping up every 15/20 minutes in your rented games?

Will probably work like how the GFN free tier with ads work. An ad before every play session (free tier play session is limited to one hour). Instead of Opening logos, you might see a 30 second ad while game loads up.

 

[GHG]

Will probably work like how the GFN free tier with ads work. An ad before every play session (free tier play session is limited to one hour). Instead of Opening logos, you might see a 30 second ad while game loads up.

 

[Fake]

Sarah Bond had plenty to say recently about how profitable Game Pass is for Microsoft (Image credit: Microsoft)

 

[mdkirby]

What are you playing? For me it's been the best 18 months ever. Indiana Jones, Stalker 2, Doom, Expedition, Ninja Gaiden, Silksong, Avowed, Oblivion, and more.
But $30 is at least 2 pizzas. And I need my pizzas!

I game on PlayStation, if a game is on both and it's a "big game" I prefer to buy it on PlayStation than "play it free", Indiana was the last example I did of that. The only two games I've played on xbox in last 2 years are atomic heart, and the alters. Yet I just kinda keep the sub there "because I might use it", same with my gym membership, when I've not been since covid.

For reference the last month has been:

Death stranding 2
The alters
Cronos
Currently playing baby steps, then once I'm back from a week of conferences either hell is us or Yōtei , so I do play a lot for a married 40+ yr old

 

[Topher]

 

[mayham2199]

Will probably work like how the GFN free tier with ads work. An ad before every play session (free tier play session is limited to one hour). Instead of Opening logos, you might see a 30 second ad while game loads up.

If GFN limits you to 1 hour then MS will have to give you more ads or apply the limit as well.

 

[Baemono]

I was screaming from the mountain tops that a person with a job, kids, etc could possibly have enough time to play games to justify the cost of gamepass. There's no way in any reality that it makes more sense to pay 30 a month for games that you won't have time to play, over buying used games or games on discount from retailers online. Gamepass has always been a buffet of content that you'll never use, and instead of paying for said buffet, i'd rather go out to a restaurant and get 1 meal instead.

Yeah, like I played FF7 Remake in October 2024, then bought Rebirth right away to play it, ended up finishing the game in July 2025, and bought FF XVI in January to play it after Rebirth, still haven't launched it yet.

If I was paying GP every month since last October, I would've played like 3 games max.

 

[iHaunter]

Tariffs can be blamed for Hardware maybe the $50 increase. Maybe not $100 I didn't do the math. But definitely not software.

 

[Tobimacoss]

If GFN limits you to 1 hour then MS will have to give you more ads or apply the limit as well.

Only GFN free tier gets ads, and is limited to one hour sessions. Their $10 month performance tier has 6 hours session limit, and $20 month Ultimate tier has 8 hours session limit.

xCloud already has a one hour session limit on FortNite streaming, which requires no subscription. They will likely expand that to all games once ads are introduced in their free tier.

As for the paid tiers, yea, they can't show too many ads in between games, just before a session launch, so I expect the ad tiers won't be too dramatically cheaper, just a 25% discount, unlike Netflix.

 

[Schnauzer]

I am out. For $360, I'm better off just getting the games I want. For me, most the games I want are not on the service. With the price increase, full Steam ahead!

 

[LarsQMorient]

There is also a free Cloud only tier with ads coming.

Can you expand on this?

 

[Donald mac Ronald]

It's even more amusing that MS are launching a new console in 2 years. I wonder how much gamepass will be then?

No way the next Xbox sells as much as series x/s. Gonna be the death of them.

 

[AtomicStarving]

I have more value in something that I buy than something in subscription (and people dont play all they pay to get it)... this reflects on the devs.... day one format for AAA is garbage... AS I SAID 100000 before... it's no wonder that MS is distancing itself from the format lol, but let the internet experts think that you are wrong.

 

[xrnzaaas]

Only Phil saying that Game Pass is too expensive can top this now.

 

[Joel Was Right]

Here's what I don't understand about the anger towards Game Pass.

It sounds like people are just angry that their free ride is ending, and they actually have to go back to buying the very games they love. Where this entitlement to 'cheap games 4ever' comes from, I don't know.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Here's what I don't understand about the anger towards Game Pass.

It sounds like people are just angry that their free ride is ending, and they actually have to go back to buying the very games they love. Where this entitlement to 'cheap games 4ever' comes from, I don't know.

They have nobody to blame but themselves and their retarded iNfLuEnCeRs.

Many, many of us said this would happen.

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

They done lost they mind!

"Please don't use our products anymore. Go away. Now."

 

[MrTentakel]

You mean the customer is paying for the billion dollar acquisitions of Activision and Bethesda?

 

[MisterXDTV]

Here's what I don't understand about the anger towards Game Pass.

It sounds like people are just angry that their free ride is ending, and they actually have to go back to buying the very games they love. Where this entitlement to 'cheap games 4ever' comes from, I don't know.

It's Microsoft that for YEARS willingly trained its customers to stop buying games and mocking those who still bought them....

How exactly can they expect to play the victim now???

 

[demigod]

Will probably work like how the GFN free tier with ads work. An ad before every play session (free tier play session is limited to one hour). Instead of Opening logos, you might see a 30 second ad while game loads up.

I don't know about GFN but Netflix ads are longer than 30secs and its not a 1 time thing.

 

[demigod]

They have nobody to blame but themselves and their retarded iNfLuEnCeRs.

Many, many of us said this would happen.

I said it from day 1 and the green rats on here laughed at me. Who's laughing now?

 

[DeepEnigma]

I said it from day 1 and the green rats on here laughed at me. Who's laughing now?

ToddHoward.gif

 

[adamsapple]

Gamepass never took off like they had hoped so now they are just trying to run everyone off and justify killing it all together

Just my 2 cents

Which would be a shame.

Before they started charging this much, the service is/was/has been incredible.

 

[Topher]

flood of cancellations on twitter. Paul Tassi's #metoo

I Just Canceled Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate just raised its prices by a full 50%, and players should take stock of what they're really getting out of it now.

www.forbes.com

 

[mitch1971]

. I'm paying for a buffet of content where I only eat one or two items. Game Pass is still objectively loaded with content, but the content I actually value isn't aligned with the new cost.

Is this person a moron? She know she can just buy the few games she wants, right? No one is forcing her to get the premium package. Her subscription worship is blinding her to the obvious solution.

 

[DavJay]

Phil Spencer been MIA for a while now. Is he in hiding?

 

[reinking]

Here's what I don't understand about the anger towards Game Pass.

It sounds like people are just angry that their free ride is ending, and they actually have to go back to buying the very games they love. Where this entitlement to 'cheap games 4ever' comes from, I don't know.

It turns out you do understand.

Exhibit X

 

[Unknown Soldier]

flood of cancellations on twitter. Paul Tassi's #metoo

I Just Canceled Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate just raised its prices by a full 50%, and players should take stock of what they're really getting out of it now.

www.forbes.com

Are there any shills left who aren't out at this point?

 

[Humdinger]

I think they realized that Day 1 was a dumb idea, and now they're trying to push people out of it. They want people in the non-Day 1 tiers, and they also want to squeeze the people who still want Day 1 for as much as they can.

Phil Spencer been MIA for a while now. Is he in hiding?

Yeah, where's Phil? I'd love to see him spin this.

Are there any shills left who aren't out at this point?

The question for me is how long before they "return to form." Many of these guys have been upset at MS for something before, but then a week later, they are back on the bandwagon.

 

[Topher]

Here's what I don't understand about the anger towards Game Pass.

It sounds like people are just angry that their free ride is ending, and they actually have to go back to buying the very games they love. Where this entitlement to 'cheap games 4ever' comes from, I don't know.

Well........yeah. I had a nice gig going. I've clicked on Bing links every day for years to generate MS Rewards points and never paid a dime for Game Pass. I've played a bunch of games and my wallet has come out of all it entirely unscathed. Was I entitled to anything? Nope. Am I spoiled? Yeah....quite a bit.

So am I angry? You bet I'm angry.

This is me....

Spoiler

lol....ok, maybe that's overdoing it a bit

 

[Starbuck2907]

I'm an ultimate sub, but will be going down to the lowest tier. I don't give a crap about Ubisoft plus, EA Play, or Fortnite. I rarely have to have day one games.

I like my Xbox, but they just convinced me to downgrade my sub. $30 is way to much.

 

[mayham2199]

Are there any shills left who aren't out at this point?

I've seen a few. Honestly any other year I would have said this is a massive rip off. This year though I still think it's a good deal for hardcore gamers only though. So for someone like me I would still come out ahead. This is where the whole service breaks down though because the hardcore users are people would be buying these games outright to begin with. Now they are just paying $30 a month to play all these games so MS is still losing.

Casual players will never use this enough to justify the cost.

I'm just very particular about the type of game I want to play next and a lot of times even if a game I really want to play is on a sub service it doesn't matter because I'm not in the mood to play it. So I just canceled everything and buy the games I'm in the mood for.

 

[fersnake]

So funny cuz everyone saying just buy and xbox and gamepass and have all the games, yeah nothing is free. It was unsustainable from the get go.

 

[Killer8]

Game Pass is such a profitable and sustainable business model that it takes annual price hikes, selling ad revenue and studio closures to keep it in the green.

 

[Topher]

Are there any shills left who aren't out at this point?

Like Humdinger said, how long will it last. These guys are not going to keep their Xbox audience by trashing Xbox long term. A lot of this is for show, I think.

 

[nani17]

 

[Klayzer]

Like Humdinger said, how long will it last. These guys are not going to keep their Xbox audience by trashing Xbox long term. A lot of this is for show, I think.

You hit the nail on the head. A bunch of c-grade actors. They will be back to slobbering on Microsoft next week. Same shit every week, with these social media hoes.

 

[Sanepar]

It doesn't worth even $1. Subscriptions sucks.

 

[Tobimacoss]

Can you expand on this?

Resetera mod had some leaked info before the news broke about these tiers, they had the new names of the tiers, and one thing they mentioned is a Free tier with ads for Xbox Cloud Gaming coming in 2026. No games included, just Buy and Stream. No hardware needed other than what you already have.

I don't know about GFN but Netflix ads are longer than 30secs and its not a 1 time thing.

I am aware. That's why I don't see a ad supported tier with Day 1 games for too cheap, because MS can't monetize with ads too effectively unlike Movies/TV streaming services.

I'm an ultimate sub, but will be going down to the lowest tier. I don't give a crap about Ubisoft plus, EA Play, or Fortnite. I rarely have to have day one games.

I like my Xbox, but they just convinced me to downgrade my sub. $30 is way to much.

Why not do the Essential to Ultimate conversion to secure Ultimate for roughly $15 month for 15 months. Let current sub lapse. Buy and stack three yearly codes for Essential, then resubscribe to Ultimate. It converts everything to Ultimate at ratio of 2.5:1

$80+$80+$80+$30 = $270

$270/15 = $18 month

If Essential is acquired cheaper on sales, you can get an effective rate of Ultimate for $14 month.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Comes down to how much you can save on deals and then cut it all in half home sharing with a friend. And if you are a MP gamer to begin with.

If you are paying full price, it'll look a lot pricier.

Right now Costco Canada has old pricing. The new official price is $34/mth. That's over $400/yr for GPU. Costco has 6 months (two 3 month cards) for $125. Online and in store (saw it yesterday).

So I can get 1 year of GPU for $250. Cut in half sharing with a buddy 50/50 and it costs me $125. $10/mth. Xbox Essentials is already about half that cost just for MP gaming. So the remainder is the trade up to Ultimate.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Resetera mod had some leaked info before the news broke about these tiers, they had the new names of the tiers, and one thing they mentioned is a Free tier with ads for Xbox Cloud Gaming coming in 2026. No games included, just Buy and Stream. No hardware needed other than what you already have.

I am aware. That's why I don't see a ad supported tier with Day 1 games for too cheap, because MS can't monetize with ads too effectively unlike Movies/TV streaming services.

Why not do the Essential to Ultimate conversion to secure Ultimate for roughly $15 month for 15 months. Let current sub lapse. Buy and stack three yearly codes for Essential, then resubscribe to Ultimate. It converts everything to Ultimate at ratio of 2.5:1

$80+$80+$80+$30 = $270

$270/15 = $18 month

If Essential is acquired cheaper on sales, you can get an effective rate of Ultimate for $14 month.

When our GPU elapsed a few months ago, that's exactly what my buddy and I did. 3 years of Gold/Essentials converted to 1.5 years of GPU.

Costco Canada sold 1 year Gold/Essentials cards for I think $85 CDN. Bought 3 years worth. Add in single month kicker to activate it for $23. About $280 total for 1.5 years (18 months). Split it 50/50. $140. Not even $10/mth each.

Easy savings. Just like when they used to do $1 or 1 month GPU promos before they implemented the conversion ratios. Problem is lots of people dont look for deals and just buy at regular price.

It's like the homeowners everyone knows who complains about their shitty mortgage rate. The right thing to do is get a mortgage broker to scope out deals which an individual can never get themselves or know about from smaller secondary lenders who give better deals than the big banks. Shop around and eventually you'll get an offer as low as it can reasonably get. But what do a lot of whiners do? Walk into their bank and sign up for that shitty posted rate on the sign. LOLOL. They just signed up for a mortgage that is gong to be 0.50-1.00% more than me.