There are only a few weeks left before a new level has been introduced on Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft has released a blog which details how the service's Standard plan will work for subscribers starting September 12.
Standard will cost $15 per month, and the biggest change is the loss of day one access to first-party games. According to Microsoft, those titles could potentially join the Standard tier “at a future date,” which could be up to a full year or more after its launch, depending on the game.
With this wording, the implication seems to be that some proprietary titles may not be available to Standard subscribers, which would theoretically incentivize switching to another plan that Done have those games.
“More Choice” for Game Pass Players
The new tier was created “to give players more choice” in terms of pricing and plans. Since it's currently relegated to Xbox consoles, it's intended to be a midpoint between Game Pass Core ($10/month) and Game Pass Ultimate ($20/month).
Notably, Game Pass Standard will launch before Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 arrival on the largest service. While that game will be available for all levels (at least, according to Microsoft in May), the fate of the other proprietary titles is still uncertain.
Xbox Insiders currently have access to try Game Pass Standard ahead of its wider launch on September 12.