Xbox Game Pass Standard Tier to Face Delay of Up to 12 Months for First-Party Titles

Microsoft has revealed that its Standard Game Pass subscribers may experience a delay of up to 12 months or more before gaining access to titles from first-party studios. This clarification comes after the company made significant changes to its Xbox Game Pass service last month. In a recent Xbox Wire post, Microsoft confirmed that only the $12/month PC tier and the $20/month Ultimate tier will receive EA Play membership and day-one titles from Xbox. In contrast, the Core ($10/month) and upcoming Standard ($15/month) tiers will offer a curated selection of high-quality games on console. All console tiers will include online console membership, and all four tiers will have access to member deals and discounts. Prior to this announcement, the waiting period for Standard subscribers to play day-one first-party releases was unclear. According to Megan Spurr, senior community lead of Xbox Game Pass, some games available on Game Pass Ultimate may not be immediately available on Game Pass Standard and may be added to the library at a later date, with a delay of up to 12 months or more, depending on the title. Microsoft will continue to notify all Game Pass members when games are added and available to play for each plan. The release date for the new Standard Game Pass tier has yet to be confirmed by Microsoft.