Online play should have been included with Console. I can understand why they would think that would eat into the ultimate tier, but having MP or always online games on Console tier without the ability to play them lowers the game count for no reason.
New release MP game launches on game pass(Exoprimal)? but you can’t play it on Console and you can’t play it on Core unless you buy it/upgrade to ultimate.
Do they even offer a yearly sub option for the new GP Core tier like they did with Gold and if yes how much will it cost? because if they aren’t then MS right now (at $9.99) charges double the money for online play access when compared to the PS Plus basic tier… 
I think console sub could only work if you have access to online play for gamepass games. I think it’s a mess if you have online games like exoprimal, and you can’t play them unless you upgrade to GPU
Right but this is an existing sub so you’d have to raise the price for all those on that tier.
And in doing so you are saying that only is $3 per month at most. So 25 games on core are costing someone $6 per month…or more
Which to me screams that all the Xbox live ones ported over will be pretty unhappy that their online sub effectively has been only $3 per month all this time.
I also think once you do that you need to add something else to GPU to further differentiate it.
I feel GPU already adds extra with access to PC, streaming, EA play, and Perks. I think only option for this to work is online access to gamepass games for the console tier
I don’t like it for a variety of reasons. It really hammers home how console players get screwed.
Game X is coming to Game Pass is now Game is coming to Game Pass*
*Excluding Game Pass Core
I’ve changed my mind about it ten times trying to come up with a better way. The core of something should be it’s main reason for existing and for Game Pass that’s the 100 + rotating games a month with day one first party. So calling core game pass online MP and a very small selection of classic games doesn’t work for me.
Really though online MP cost has to go.
Online MP - Free
Mini GP - 25 games plus deals and discounts
Cloud - Cloud GP
Console - Console GP
PC - PC GP
Ultimate GP - Everything
Yeah but you’re asking Xbox to throw away a massive amount of revenue when they’re about to buy ABK for nearly 70 billion. I don’t think that is realistic. Business wise they’d simply not be allowed.
The only fee can’t go - so once you’ve got to that point - what is the plan?
I think the official announcement has yet to be made, so there probably will be more clarification. I like it though.
Pay for online access is not going away. That is the bread and butter of a console platform.
Keeping that in mind… The service will be little better now because xbox one games will be added by the time. No games to own is where the service is degraded.
Net result I believe that service improves.
Bingo.
My proposal:
Xbox Live Gold rebranded as Xbox Game Pass Core
You also have to take into account inflation these days. MS just upped the prices for subscription, so I doubt we will get better for Game Pass console ( Core and a 100+ games ) for basically the same price.
Then you need to include it in GP, it’s a $1 difference anyway or are we going to see this.
CoD Launching 2024 on Game Pass ¹²
¹ Game Pass Core required for online play
² Not including Game Pass Core
Seems like a lot of handwringing over something that amounts to nothing more changing the name of the base plan and swapping out GwG with a small collection of games.
The new tiered system does not make sense any more. Either they include online play in Console Game Pass as well (no idea how they would price that) or they axe the console tier altogether and go straight from Core to Ultimate.
Indeed. However, the name change does hilight the situation that going up a tier is not additive.
I’m sure they will continue to have the Yearly Sub option with discount for GamePass Core exactly like they did for Gold. Thus keeping that lowest tier around $60 a year. That drastically changes the talking points. No one ever should be subbing to Gold or Core on a month to month basis. It doesn’t make economic sense.
It really seems like it should be something more like (prices below are semi arbitrary):
All of them should include Online MP
I also haven’t thought about it in detail and haven’t had coffee yet
leans back in office chair
I think we have to wait for Microsoft to officially communicate this, but hopefully they’re seeing the criticism. I hope they read this and make some changes to these tiers. I think the most logical thing for console tier is access to online play for gamepass game. They could also change pricing structure, but I feel this rollout is messy if there is no online play for console tier since online only games launch on gamepass.
Part of the problem, from a pricing standpoint, is that some gamers want game pass but don’t care at all about online play. My two adult daughters are in this camp.
So, you don’t necessarily want an option where all game pass members are forced to pay for online play.
I think there is a branding issue with all the core features not being included in game pass console, but I understand why they are doing it that way.
I think the idea that most people are operating from would be that you shouldn’t be paying for online MP in 2023 regardless, you are paying for everything else. It should just be a thing that is “included” across the board.
Mind you, I dont care one way or the other, I will always be on Ultimate anyway
But thats the way it was before this. You needed 2 console subs to play online titles if you weren’t in the ultimate tier.
I think they should only sell the yearly subs option for Core / Gold. The monthly option is horrible cost ratio, with the quarterly a bit better, but the real value is in the yearly for $60. It needs to be around the $5 a month level.