The Redmond-based tech giant may be preparing to bundle its products, as it plans to do with other in-house products.
Two weeks ago, Tom Warren, an editor at The Verge, revealed that, according to Microsoft’s internal sources, the company had plans in the early stages to add several third-party services to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, making the service more appealing. Many Xbox gamers do not favor the price increase to $30, which took effect on October 1, even with the addition of Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics. Therefore, Microsoft is likely looking to add further value to the service. A new rumor comes from Jez Corden of Windows Central. He mentioned Warren’s rumor and added that he had heard Microsoft is considering adding its first-party subscription services, including World of Warcraft, Minecraft Realms, Fallout 1st, and The Elder Scrolls Online Plus.
“I think there is an opportunity to make Game Pass Ultimate worth the money,” he said. “Recently, Tom Warren wrote in his Verge newsletter that Microsoft is looking at ways to add more value to Game Pass. I think creating more reasons to subscribe at $30 is probably a race against time for them right now. They’re probably thinking, ‘We need to make this work and make people feel like it’s worthwhile.’ One thing I did hear – and I don’t know if it will ever happen – is that they were exploring putting World of Warcraft and some of their other subscriptions, like Fallout 1st and Minecraft Realms, into Game Pass Ultimate. If they did that and included World of Warcraft, Minecraft Realms, Fallout 1st, and the The Elder Scrolls Online Plus subscription in Game Pass Ultimate, then it would definitely be worth it to me at $30. It does seem like they’re eventually going to integrate some of these subscriptions into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. We’ll see if it actually happens.”
It seems like a smart move to use first-party subscriptions to increase the value of Game Pass Ultimate, although Microsoft will certainly examine the economics closely to see if it’s feasible. It’s almost certain that bundling all of these services into Game Pass Ultimate would require restructuring each one.
The only question is how much more expensive Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will become.
Source: WCCFTech
