Xbox Discreetly Removes Another Game Pass Benefit
Gamers are currently reacting to the latest Game Pass subscription price increase, however Microsoft isn't done yet. After subscribers observed that the usual Game Pass discounts on numerous store purchases were no longer available, Xbox announced that savings on games, DLC, and virtual coins have ceased to be a Game Pass perk.
What Changed with Game Pass 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 stated in a statement. “Ultimate members continue to have 20% discount on select games from the Game Pass library. On top of that, all Rewards members will earn points when shopping games and add-ons on the Store, while Premium and Ultimate subscribers will earn even more, 2x and 4x respectively.”
So, for example, when purchasing COD Points, Call of Duty players will get Reward Points, but no discount on the COD Points themselves.
An Issue with Loyalty Points
However, there’s another limitation: Reports suggest users can’t accumulate reward points to redeem for free Game Pass months anymore, as this option seems to have been removed.
Subscriber Reaction and Membership Terminations
Between the latest Game Pass restructuring, the increase for each the service and Xbox consoles, and the removal of the member savings, Game Pass users are angry, and are canceling their subscriptions en masse. Shortly after the subscription cost rise was announced, the website where subscribers can cancel their subscription temporarily crashed from all the traffic it received in the wake of the announcement.
- Latest subscription updates include a price increase and removed discounts.
- Ultimate and Higher-level members now earn points instead of discounts.
- Reward Points are no longer able to be exchanged for complimentary subscription periods.
- Many users are canceling their memberships in protest.
