Level Up Your Gaming Experience: Xbox Unveils Day One-Free ‘Standard Game Pass’ for Consoles
Xbox Game Pass Standard Launched: What You Need to Know
Microsoft has announced the launch of Xbox Game Pass Standard, a console-only subscription product that replaces the discontinued Console Game Pass.
Xbox Game Pass Standard was launched in July, along with a price increase for Game Pass. The new subscription product costs 11,900 won per month and offers a total of 370 free titles.
However, the biggest difference between Game Pass Standard and Console Game Pass is the absence of ‘Day One’, which allows players to access games for free at the time of release. This excludes not only new releases but also some existing Day One titles.
Some notable titles that are excluded from Game Pass Standard include ‘Diablo 4’, ‘Starfield’, ‘Senua’s Tale: Hellblade 2’, ‘Kunitsugami: Path of Goddess’, and ‘Octopath Traveler 2’. Additionally, some Xbox first-party titles are also missing from the new subscription product.
When compared to PC Game Pass, the limitations of Game Pass Standard become more apparent. PC Game Pass includes the titles mentioned above and Day One for free, and even applies to EA Play membership, all for a lower price of 9,500 won.
This has led to criticism that console game companies are favoring PCs more. The US Federal Trade Commission has also criticized the changes to Game Pass, stating that the new service has degraded product performance by removing the most valuable titles.