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In a significant clarification to its newly restructured subscription model, Microsoft has confirmed that a standalone PC Game Pass tier will continue to exist, but at a higher price. The dedicated PC option, formerly priced at $11.99/month, is now listed at $16.49/month, representing a price increase of nearly 40%.
This information contradicts earlier reports that suggested the PC-only tier had been fully eliminated and its features absorbed solely into the console-centric tiers. The continuation of this tier provides a dedicated option for PC gamers who do not use an Xbox console.
The plans are now tiered as follows (USD/month, all including PC and Cloud access):
| Tier | Price | Library Size | Key Feature for PC Users | Day-One Releases? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $9.99 (Unchanged) | 50+ games | Basic curated PC/cloud library. | No |
| Premium | $14.99 (Unchanged) | 200+ games | Larger PC/cloud library; new Xbox games within 12 months. | No (Delayed) |
| Ultimate | $29.99 (Up from $19.99) | 500+ games | Full library, including 75+ day-one releases/year; EA Play; Ubisoft+ Classics; Fortnite Crew. | Yes (Full Day-One Access) |
| PC | $16.49/month | Hundreds of PC games | Subscription continues automatically; new games on day one, including Xbox and third-party titles; play and earn up to $50/year in the Store with Rewards. | Yes (Full Day-One Access) |
While the standalone PC tier remains, the price hike means a 40% increase for dedicated PC players. Despite the higher cost, the tier offers superior value to the Premium console tier ($14.99/month) for users prioritizing new releases, as Premium only offers new Xbox-published games within 12 months of launch, not on day one.
The only key benefit missing from this new PC tier, compared to the top-tier Ultimate plan ($29.99/month), is the inclusion of Ubisoft+ Classics and the Fortnite Crew subscription. For PC gamers who primarily seek the core Game Pass library, day-one releases, and EA Play, the $16.49 PC tier is now the more cost-effective option over the significantly more expensive Ultimate plan.
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