Xbox Game Pass will change a little, but not necessarily for the good of players. We’ll explain everything to you in detail; one thing is certain: you won’t like it.
Recently, Microsoft has adjusted the way subscriptions are converted to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. If you are a subscriber to XGP Core (formerly Xbox Live Gold), PC Game Pass or EA Play, these changes will affect you. In fact, the new conversion ratios are less advantageous, which in the event of a transition may reduce the duration of your subscription. Here are all the details you need to know.
New conversion rates for Xbox Game Pass
With these adjustments, subscriptions will now convert to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate as follows:
- Xbox Game Pass Core: The ratio is now 2:1. In other words, 2 days of Core subscription will give you 1 day of Ultimate. For example, if you have 90 days of Core left, you will get 45 days of Ultimate.
- PC Game Pass: here the ratio is 3:2. Three days of PC Game Pass membership become two days of Ultimate. So for 90 days of PC Game Pass you get 60 days of Game Pass Ultimate.
- Xbox Game Pass Console: The ratio is now 4:3. This means 4 days of Game Pass Console will give you 3 days of Ultimate. If you have 90 days of Console left, you’ll get 68 days of Ultimate.
- EA Play: The ratio is 3:1. For every 3 days of EA Play, you get 1 day of Ultimate. Therefore, for the remaining 90 days of EA Play, you get 30 days of Game Pass Ultimate.
What is really changing?
Before these adjustments, the switch was more advantageous. For example, for Xbox Game Pass Core, the ratio was 3:2. If you had 90 days of Core, you got 60 days of Ultimate. Today, with the new 2:1 ratio, the same 90 days only add up to 45 days. A few years ago, the switch was even 1:1, which meant that no day was lost when switching to Ultimate. This new switch is therefore significantly less favorable.
Microsoft’s goal is simple: encourage users to subscribe directly to XGP Ultimate, a service that brings together all subscriptions, including Xbox Game Pass Console, PC Game Pass, XGP Core, and EA Play. By reducing the conversion benefits, Microsoft gently pushes subscribers to choose Ultimate from the start. For those who prefer to switch between different subscriptions, this may seem less interesting. But for Microsoft, the idea is to simplify the offer.
The coincidence of the calendar?
This change comes in an interesting context. Microsoft has announced this change, while Sony is making a lot of noise with the introduction of the PS5ProWith a high price tag of 799 dollars and accessories sold separately (such as the disc player), Sony is facing a lot of criticism. Microsoft has probably chosen this moment to make this announcement discreetly, hoping that it will be less noticeable in the media frenzy.
Source: Xbox