Opinion: Xbox Game Pass Has Lost the Plot – Give Gamers Choice Again
Microsoft has officially lost touch with the average Aussie gamer. With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now priced at $35.95 a month, it’s hard to argue that the service still represents good value — especially when most of us don’t use half of what’s included.
Sure, Game Pass built its reputation on value and variety. It offered hundreds of titles, day-one releases, and cross-platform play across console, PC, and cloud. But at nearly $430 a year, that so-called “value” has morphed into an expensive subscription bundle most players can’t justify.
Let’s be honest: the majority of us play maybe two or three core games regularly. We don’t need a bloated library of titles we’ll never download, or cloud streaming we’ll never touch. What we do want is the freedom to play online, connect with mates, and maybe try a few new games each month without paying for a heap of extras we’ll never use.
The Case for Choice
If Microsoft truly wants to regain the trust of the gaming community, it needs to rethink its approach and give players control again.
Remember when Xbox Live Gold was around $75 a year and provided us with online access, plus a few rotating titles? That worked — it was simple, fair, and affordable.
Instead of forcing everyone into one overpriced “Ultimate” plan, Microsoft could strip Game Pass back to its core and let players build their own plan:
Base Subscription – $8.99/month
- Online multiplayer access
- 2–3 rotating titles per month
Optional Add-Ons (each $3.99/month)
- EA Play – for those who actually want the EA catalogue
- Ubisoft+ – for fans of Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, etc.
- Cloud Play – for players who use streaming features
Simple. Customisable. Fair. That’s what gamers want — choice without the bloat.
Subscription Fatigue is Real
It’s not just Xbox. Gamers and consumers in general are done with subscriptions. Between Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, Adppe, and even car manufacturers charging monthly fees for seat warmers, we’ve hit a breaking point. Everything has turned into a recurring payment, and the novelty has well and truly worn off.
Gamers are starting to demand permanence again, as well as the ability to own the things they pay for. That’s why older titles, physical copies, and one-time purchases are making a comeback. People are tired of renting access to their hobbies.
The Bottom Line
Game Pass was a brilliant concept when it launched. It provided players with a vast library at a reasonable price. But at $35.95 a month, it’s hard to see it as anything other than an overpriced luxury in 2025.
Microsoft doesn’t need to scrap Game Pass, but they do need to simplify it. Cut it back, make it modular, and give players real choice.
Because at the end of the day, most of us would happily pay a modest fee for the basics, rather than a premium for features we’ll never use.
