The era of Xbox Game Pass being universally hailed as the “best deal in gaming” has officially ended. Microsoft kicked off October 2025 with a major shakeup and a punishing price hike for its top-tier subscription, changing the economics of the platform overnight. The move involves a complete restructuring of the global console tiers and, most notably, a massive 50% price increase for the flagship Ultimate plan.
The bad news hit home for PC gamers in Malaysia as well. The local subscription fee for PC Game Pass has risen from RM20 to RM25 per month, marking the second consecutive annual price increase for Malaysian subscribers.
The Tier Restructuring: What You Pay Now
Microsoft has streamlined the global offerings and given two tiers new names, while hiking the price on the two most powerful ones. The old tiers (Core, Standard, Ultimate) are now rebranded as Essential, Premium, and Ultimate.
The Ultimate subscription, built for players who want everything, saw the biggest hit, jumping from $19.99 to $29.99 per month in the U.S. That’s an extra $120 a year. The two middle tiers maintained their U.S. pricing but received expanded libraries:
- Essential ($9.99/month): Replaces Core, now including unlimited cloud gaming, online multiplayer, and a curated library of over 50 games.
- Premium ($14.99/month): Replaces Standard, gaining key titles and over 200 games playable across console, PC, and cloud. Crucially, to play newly published Activision Call of Duty games, users must subscribe to the Ultimate tier, as they are excluded from Premium.
For PC gamers in Malaysia, the localized PC Game Pass tier, which offers hundreds of high-quality PC games, day-one releases, and an EA Play membership, has increased to RM25 per month. This RM5 increase from the previous RM20 price point has been noted by the community as a significant change in the service’s local value proposition.
Justifying the Price Hike
Microsoft has attempted to justify the massive global increase on Ultimate by citing expanded content and technical upgrades, reflecting the service’s enhanced value.
The most significant technical upgrades to the Ultimate tier include:
- Expanded Catalog: Access to over 75 day-one releases annually, a 50% increase.
- Partner Benefits: The immediate inclusion of Ubisoft+ Classics and the upcoming addition of Fortnite Crew.
- Cloud Upgrade: Enhanced streaming quality up to 1440p resolution and improved bitrates for a better cloud gaming experience.
However, the rapid price adjustment has caused significant friction. Critics argue that the $30 Ultimate price tag is no longer justifiable for the average subscriber, with the annual cost equivalent to buying five full-price games.
The Gamer Fallout: Value and Choice
The public reaction has been swift, characterized by anger and “frantic subscription stacking” globally as users rushed to buy discounted prepaid codes to lock in the old rate.
For Malaysian PC gamers, while the RM5 increase is modest compared to the international hike, it forces a critical evaluation of the service’s value. Many local gamers noted that the increase, following a previous hike from RM15 to RM20, brings the annual subscription cost (RM300) into closer competition with major seasonal promotions on platforms like Steam.
Ultimately, the restructuring and price hikes are seen by many as Microsoft’s attempt to finally make the ambitious Game Pass service sustainable, even if it risks sacrificing the vast, consumer-friendly appeal that made it a revolutionary force in the first place. The decision now rests with individual gamers to determine if the expanding catalog and technical features—like cloud streaming and high refresh rates—justify the higher financial commitment.
