Is it just us, or is Microsoft looking a little hangdog of late? We reckon it may have something to do with the entirely unwarranted culling of its Game Pass for Console game pass tier (and subsequent price hike across the board), which will eventually see a new (and more expensive) ‘Standard’ tier take its place come September. Whatever the case, Xbox may have another tier or two hidden up its sleeve.
Not dead yet
That’s what the folks over at Windows Central have heard, at least. The idea, it seems, would be to introduce a cloud-based version of the subscription that would be cheaper and generally more “approachable” than Game Pass Ultimate. There are also “very tentative” rumours that the Game Pass Friends and Family Plan isn’t dead in the water just yet, despite Xbox pulling it a year ago.
And of course, there are murmurs that Xbox has done some digging into how an ad-based tier would work, to potentially target those customers who can’t quite justify a more expensive tier, though the report mentions that Xbox “isn’t currently actively working towards an ad-based Xbox Game Pass tier.” All we hear is ‘never say never’.
But a cloud- and family-based Game Pass? Both seem like they’d be right up Xbox’s alley – at the right price.
Currently, the only way to get in on Xbox’s current cloud-based infrastructure is through a Game Pass Ultimate subscription (in the US) – the most expensive one there is. For those people who don’t want to deal with the upfront costs of an Xbox Series X/S – or are simply happy with a competing console – a cloud-based solution seems like a no-brainer.
Read More: Microsoft makes some big changes to Game Pass – including a massive price hike
The service would also allow subscribers of the cheaper cloud tier to “double dip by offering digital ownership of games within the service,” unlike the current model popularised by Spotify and Netflix.
If Xbox ever allowed the return of the Family and Friends plan, it would likely come at a hefty price. Windows Central reckons the plan initially ‘failed’ in those territories it was trialled in for being too good. Publishers reportedly took issue with the tier being too generous at $25/m (R200/m).
A year later, and R200/m is enough to get players a single Ultimate subscription and… that’s about it. Should Xbox commit to bringing back the Family Plan wholly, we expect to see a revised price around the R500-R600/m mark, to cover the four additional licences.