Xbox Quietly Eliminates Another Game Pass Benefit
Players are still reacting to the latest Xbox Game Pass cost hike, however the company isn't done yet. Once subscribers observed that the usual subscription discounts on numerous in-game buys were no longer available, Microsoft announced that discounts on titles, downloadable content, and virtual coins are no longer a Game Pass perk.
What Changed with the Subscription Discounts?
“The change applies across all games and DLC, not just specific titles. In place of direct discounts, Ultimate and Premium members will now get 10% and 5% back in points for buying certain games and add-ons from the Game Pass collection,” the tech giant explained in a official comment. “Ultimate subscribers still receive a 20% discount on chosen Game Pass titles. Additionally, every Rewards member earns points for Store purchases, with Premium and Ultimate users getting 2x and 4x the points, respectively.”
For instance, buying COD Points in Call of Duty now gives Reward Points instead of a price cut on the Points.
A Catch with Loyalty Points
However, there’s another limitation: Gamers may find they can no longer use saved reward points to get complimentary Game Pass subscriptions, indicating this feature is gone.
Player Reaction and Subscription Cancellations
Between the latest subscription overhaul, the increase for both the service and Xbox consoles, and the removal of the Game Pass subscriber discount, Game Pass users are angry, and are ending their memberships in large numbers. Soon after the Game Pass price increase was revealed, the portal where subscribers can cancel their subscription briefly went down from the surge in visits it got in the aftermath of the news.
- Recent Game Pass changes include a higher cost and removed discounts.
- Ultimate and Higher-level subscribers now earn rewards instead of price cuts.
- Reward Points are no longer able to be exchanged for complimentary subscription periods.
- Many gamers are ending their subscriptions in protest.
