Microsoft’s decision to restructure Xbox Game Pass with higher subscription costs and new tier divisions has led to swift backlash from fans. Shortly after the announcement, reports surfaced that the company’s official subscription management website was unable to handle the surge of users attempting to cancel their memberships.
Well-known gaming news source Wario64 reported that the Xbox website was displaying a blank page when users tried to load the cancellation section, suggesting that the servers were under heavy strain from a wave of traffic. The timing appears directly linked to the news of the price increase, which will now see the Ultimate tier rise from 19.99 to 29.99 USD per month. The change is effective immediately, leaving many players feeling as though they had no chance to respond before the higher rates took effect.
The frustration has been amplified by adjustments to the lower subscription tiers. Unlike Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which continues to offer more than 400 games along with day-one releases, the new Premium tier provides access to around 200 titles and excludes immediate releases of major first-party games. The entry-level Essential tier offers a more limited library of roughly 50 curated titles. Many subscribers have voiced dissatisfaction at being effectively pushed toward the more expensive plan if they want to retain the benefits they had grown accustomed to.
At the same time, Microsoft has attempted to highlight the scale of the updated service. Over 90 new games were added to Xbox Game Pass today, including many Ubisoft Classics titles such as Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, Ghost Recon Breakpoint, and Prince of Persia The Lost Crown. Ultimate subscribers will also receive expanded perks such as Fortnite Crew membership and Ubisoft+ Classics at no additional cost, along with improvements to Xbox Cloud Gaming that now supports streaming at up to 1440p.
Despite these additions, the immediate reaction from the community underscores a growing tension between the company’s efforts to expand Game Pass value and the financial burden placed on its audience. For many long-time subscribers, the steep price increase and sudden implementation were enough to push them to consider leaving the service altogether.
