I expect Microsoft to drop the XBL Gold requirement for Game Pass games.

Right now users are forced to subscribe to Xbox Live Gold in order to play a lot of Xbox Game Pass which is an extra sub. So in the future, I see Microsoft dropping the XBL Gold requirement for Game Pass.

So I see future Subs to be like this.

Xbox Game Pass = Xbox Game Pass only + XCloud Streaming at $10

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate = Xbox Game Pass + XBL Gold (Being able to play non Game Pass games) + XCloud Streaming at $15

Ok.

Didn't they announced already that a new subscription containing both Gold and Pass is coming?

And I suspect that they are not. They need to drop the requirement on the f2p games though.

Cool.

@phbz: im pretty sure they did. It's not really removing if its combined for a "discount". I fully expect them to combine and remove the options eventually to have one of the other.

I don't think they'll give you guys a break as they really don't care about you.

I mean, if you're trying to pay Game Pass prices for online play, then sure, Microsoft should totally do that in my opinion.

I am all for this, I don't understand why they haven't done it.

Should have been done by now. Maybe holding it for E3?

The combined price was already in the works I thought. They should allow free to play games without a suscription though.

@robert_sparkes: I have yet to see a compelling argument about why a game you already didn't pay for should game free online while people who actually paid for a game should have to pay. Either nobody should pay or they all should pay.

I didn’t know you needed Gold to have Gamepass. I got 12 months free Gold when I bought my X and I periodically subscribe to Gamepass, usually if I feel I have time.

I think MS are feeling it out.

If they get enough Gamepass subscribers, they'll maybe drop the Gold fee at some point.

Right now I think that it's too early to say really. If they were to drop the Gold fee now, and then Gamepass ends up not working out... They're fucked. They'd have a hard time going back to charging for Gold.

I think they're taking the Wait and See approach. It'll be some time before they ever drop the Gold fee if they ever do.

AwesomeSauce, would be another wise move from MS, hope this happens. :D

I just can't see them ever dropping gold they still charge for free to play so nothing will change.

Giving Microsoft wayyyyyyyy too much credit for generosity. Which can be said of pretty much the entire AAA games industry; while loot boxes are under scrutiny, where there's a way they can take more of your money, they'll find it... and even convince you to be thankful for it.

Wouldn't be surprised.

They can potentially make more money with free online with the cut they get from free to play transactions.

AAA games rake in more profit from microtransactions than the $60 entry price, and easily by a factor of 5X, if not more. EA and Activision themselves have released graphs to show this. They could make all games F2P (which is where micro's come from) and still be ludicrously profitable.

They could... but why should they when they can squeeze out every dollar they can, and so long as the consumers are more than willing to be charged beyond the entry fee. They aren't looking for the most "fair deal for us", they're looking for the maximum revenue potential for their pockets. Again you're underestimating their greed. Mountains of money isn't enough for them... no amount will EVER be enough.

And it's the same thing with Microsoft's online pricing; sure they could still be very profitable just on the micro-revenue. But if they can still get both that and the subscription fee... then the micro-only-revenue just isn't going to be enough to satisfy the top level execs.