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Xbox Game Pass Standard: What You Need to Know About the New Gaming Plan

The plan costs $15 a month and replaces the Game Pass Console tier.

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Headshot of Zachary McAuliffe
Zachary McAuliffe Staff writer
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The Game Pass Standard title card showing games on a gray background
Microsoft

Microsoft launched Xbox Game Pass Standard, a new Game Pass plan, in September. For $15 a month, the subscription includes online multiplayer access for consoles, access to hundreds of games in the Game Pass library and up to 50% off the purchase of some non-Game Pass games.

However, the subscription doesn't include access to new games on the day they're released, aka Day 1. That means when Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is released on Oct. 25, for example, Standard subscribers will have to buy the game separately to play it, or wait to see if Microsoft adds it to the Game Pass library at a later date.

"[Day 1 releases] will not be immediately available with Game Pass Standard and may be added to the library at a future date," Xbox said in an email to CNET. "This could be up to 12 months or more and will vary by title."

Game Pass Standard subscribers can access about 350 games from the Game Pass library, and Microsoft is giving subscribers access to more games every month. Subscribers can play games like Fallout 4 and Persona 3 Reload. Microsoft also added games like MLB The Show 24 and Sifu to the service on Oct. 2. 

Microsoft announced the Game Pass Standard in July alongside the announcement that it would discontinue the Game Pass Console tier for new subscribers. The Console tier was $11 a month, included Day 1 releases and gave subscribers access to hundreds of games.

The company also announced in July it was raising the price of Game Pass Ultimate from $17 to $20 a month. This price increase for Ultimate subscribers marked the second time the price has risen for the tier in two years. 

Now, you can choose between these four tiers, which all include discounts on some non-Game Pass games.

  • Game Pass Core: $10 a month gives access to online multiplayer and a small library of games.
  • PC Game Pass: $12 a month gives access to hundreds of games and EA Play, but only for PC.
  • Game Pass Standard: $15 a month gives access to online multiplayer and hundreds of games, but no Day 1 releases.

  • Game Pass Ultimate: $20 a month gives access to hundreds of games -- including Day 1 releases and EA Play -- and online multiplayer.

For more on Game Pass, you can read CNET's Game Pass Ultimate review and our advice on which tier is right for you. You can also check out what to know about Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 coming to Game Pass in October. 

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