Summary
- The new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier offers less value as it does not include day one games.
- Heavy hitters like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Starfield are not available to Game Pass Standard subscribers.
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes online multiplayer access, exclusive perks, and guarantees future day one games.
Microsoft has officially introduced the Standard tier of Xbox Game Pass, which means new subscribers must sign up for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to get day one games. A few months back, Microsoft announced its controversial plans to completely change Xbox Game Pass by introducing the new Standard tier. The Standard tier of Xbox Game Pass costs $14.99 per month and has completely replaced the existing Xbox Game Pass for Console for new users.
If you have already signed up for Xbox Game Pass for Console, you will maintain access to it and its benefits (including day one games) until your subscription lapses. PC Game Pass will also retain access to all its current benefits and will continue to receive day one releases.
Prior to Xbox Game Pass Standard, vanilla Game Pass on consoles gave subscribers access to nearly every game available through the Game Pass library, minus EA Play titles that were exclusive to the Ultimate tier. Xbox Game Pass Standard offers significantly less value, as it is not guaranteed to get day one games, and in fact, some of the games that were previously available to console Game Pass subscribers have now been made exclusive to Ultimate.
Resetera user vixolus put together a list of Xbox Game Pass console games that are not available as part of the Standard tier and now require a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. This includes heavy hitters like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Diablo 4, Forza Motorsport, and Starfield, as well as notable indies like Another Crab's Treasure, Botany Manor, and Core Keeper, among many other titles. At this point, it doesn't really make sense to sign up for Xbox Game Pass Standard.
List of Games Only Available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
- Age of Mythology: Retold Standard Edition
- Another Crab's Treasure
- Botany Manor
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
- Core Keeper
- Creatures of Ava
- Diablo 4
- Dungeons Of Hinterberg
- Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
- Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
- Flock
- Forza Motorsport
- Galacticare
- Go Mecha Ball
- Harold Halibut
- Hauntii
- Heavy Weapon
- Humanity
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
- Little Kitty, Big City
- Magical Delicacy
- MLB The Show 24
- Neon White
- Octopath Traveler 2
- Open Roads
- Payday 3
- PlateUp
- Robin Hood: Sherwood Builders
- Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends
- Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2
- Slime Rancher 2
- SpiderHeck
- Star Trucker
- Starfield
- Still Wakes the Deep
- Tchia
- The Case of the Golden Idol
- The Rewinder
- Turnip Boy Robs a Bank
- You Suck at Parking: Complete Edition
After all, not only does Xbox Game Pass Ultimate give subscribers access to every game added to the service across consoles and PC, but it also includes the benefits previously associated with Xbox Live Gold. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes online multiplayer access and gets players exclusive perks and discounts on top of everything else, so it's really a no-brainer for anyone that games a lot on Xbox.
An Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription also guarantees subscribers access to future day one games. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will join Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in October, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and STALKER 2 are joining the lineup in November, and finally, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is on deck for December. Now really is the perfect time to sign up for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate if vanilla Game Pass subscribers haven't signed up already.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the highest tier of Microsoft's flagship game subscription service that offers over 100 game titles that you can play with a single purchase, making it one of the most outstanding value propositions of the Xbox ecosystem to date.
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