Xbox Game Pass Standard: The Day One Dilemma Dividing Gamers
Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass Standard offers online play but lacks day-one releases, sparking gamer outrage and fueling debate over subscription fairness and pricing.
When Microsoft launched Xbox Game Pass Standard in 2024, replacing Xbox Game Pass For Console at $14.99/month, gamers expected a straightforward upgrade. Boy, were they in for a rude awakening! The shiny new tier delivered online play access but pulled a classic bait-and-switch by axing day-one game releases – the crown jewel of Game Pass. Titles like the fantasy RPG Avowed, action-packed Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and the demon-slaying Doom: The Dark Ages became exclusive perks for Ultimate subscribers at $19.99/month. Microsoft's vague stance that these blockbusters "may be added to the library at a future date" left players feeling like they'd rolled a critical miss on trust.
The real kicker? PC Game Pass users kept their day-one access at just $11.99/month – a proper steal considering they also get EA Play bundled in. Meanwhile, console warriors need Ultimate for EA privileges. Talk about adding insult to injury! The pricing structure became a proper head-scratcher when compared to the budget-friendly $9.99/month Xbox Game Pass Core tier, which offers online play but only 25 games. Having Core and Standard tiers sounding like interchangeable tech jargon didn't help either. Gamers took to forums like a horde of angry goblins, demanding a simpler subscription: no games, just online play at a fair price. Yet here we are in 2025, with the same convoluted system leaving players salty.
🔍 People Also Ask
- Can I share Game Pass Standard with family?
Nope – Microsoft's subscription sharing remains locked to the primary account holder's console.
- Do any Xbox tiers guarantee first-party titles at launch?
Only Ultimate subscribers get Microsoft's own games (Avowed, Forza) immediately. Standard users wait indefinitely.
- Why does PC Game Pass cost less with more perks?
Industry analysts suspect Microsoft prioritizes PC growth, while console users face monopolized pricing.
- Can I upgrade temporarily for a specific release?
Absolutely! Swapping to Ultimate for a month costs less than buying a $70 AAA game outright.
| Tier Comparison (2025) | Price/Month | Day-One Games | EA Play | Online Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC Game Pass | $11.99 | ✅ | ✅ | N/A |
| Game Pass Core | $9.99 | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Game Pass Standard | $14.99 | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Game Pass Ultimate | $19.99 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
The irony’s thicker than dragon hide: Microsoft’s cloud-focused future clashes with this tiered fragmentation. Personally? I reckon they'll either collapse Standard into Ultimate by 2026 or face an exodus to PlayStation Plus Premium. When GTA VI drops, that $5 monthly Ultimate upgrade will look like chump change versus $150 standalone pricing. For now, the ball's in Microsoft's court – they gotta stop treating console gamers like second-class citizens before this whole house of cards goes kaput. 🤷♂️
The following breakdown is based on GamesIndustry.biz, a leading source for game industry news and market analysis. GamesIndustry.biz has extensively covered the evolution of subscription models like Xbox Game Pass, highlighting how tiered offerings and shifting day-one access policies are reshaping consumer expectations and competitive dynamics in the console market.