85%
Highly Likely
According to two separate and trustworthy sources, Microsoft is reportedly considering the merging of the Xbox Game Pass Premium console subscription tier with PC Game Pass. The Verge's Tom Warren heard that the plans are far from finalized, but that's what Microsoft is thinking right now, and Windows Central has subsequently backed up the reporting with its own sources.
Here's a breakdown of the respective feature sets as they are currently available to users:
| Feature | PC Game Pass | Xbox Game Pass Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $11.99/month | $14.99/month |
| Platforms | PC only | Console, PC, Cloud |
| First-Party Day-One Access | Yes | No (added within 1 year) |
| EA Play Included | Yes | No |
| Cloud Gaming | No | Yes (unlimited) |
| Online Multiplayer | N/A (PC only) | Yes (on console) |
| Game Library Size | Full PC catalog | ~200 games |
Merging Xbox Game Pass Premium with PC Game Pass likely means the new tier would include cloud gaming, EA Play, and first-party day-one access, arguably the three primary features of Game Pass. Of course, it's most likely going to cost slightly more if this plan goes through. It's hard to take a guess, but perhaps somewhere around $17-18.
At that point, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate could really need more bundled third-party services to boost its value. Indeed, that's the other half of Warren's rumor, though he does not share any specifics on which ones. Ubisoft+ Classics and Fortnite Crew are already included since October's big restructuring, so it would have to be something else. Do you reckon Microsoft should go forward with this merger plan, or would you rather things stay as they are? Let us know in the comments below.
In related Xbox news, it seems like the next-generation console could launch in 2027, but Microsoft hasn't fully committed to that yet. Most sources agree it's going to be a console/PC hybrid that runs PC apps and will even have different SKUs from other OEMs like ASUS.
About the author: With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at Wccftech since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and Editor in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of Wccftech's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games.
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