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Rumour: Microsoft Might Permanently 'Combine' Xbox Live Gold With Game Pass

Lunatic_Gamer

Gold Member
rumour-microsoft-wants-to-make-xbox-live-gold-part-of-game-pass.large.jpg


We've seen all these rumours over the past couple of years that Microsoft might be thinking about getting rid of Xbox Live Gold for good, but now a new rumour is suggesting it might be permanently integrated into Xbox Game Pass.

Journalist Brad Sams has advised that he's heard Microsoft is "trying to find ways to contemplate" combining Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass, and it sounds like the idea is to make it the "baseline" offer at $15 USD per-month:

"I've heard that Microsoft is contemplating figuring out how to raise the price of these services to include Gold so that $15 per-month is the new baseline, meaning you get Game Pass and you also get Xbox Live Gold, and that's the only tier.
It would not surprise me if when Microsoft closes this acquisition of Activision, they actually raise that base floor-up price of how much it's going to cost to get into their service."

As you may well be aware, Xbox Live Gold is already integrated into Xbox Game Pass as part of the Ultimate subscription, which itself costs $14.99 per-month. If it becomes a requirement to be a Game Pass member to access Xbox Live Gold, however, that's going to be quite a massive and potentially risky move for Microsoft moving forward.

 

elliot5

Member
They need some solution to migrate people over to game pass that are Gold only now but this doesn’t sound accurate. Unless they make Ultimate even more expensive and the key benefit being bundled pc console cloud access. But then that doesn’t do anything for the solo device owners like console only.
 

Topher

Gold Member
Just a year ago....

""Xbox Live isn't going away," Microsoft told Eurogamer. "We are making ongoing adjustments to create a simpler, more descriptive messaging system for Xbox in different areas. None of these experiences or features will change as part of these updates."


So nah
 

kyliethicc

Member
Xbox Live Gold as a separate service will def be phased out at some point now that Sony merged PS Now into PS Plus.

Microsoft are the only one left with 2 sub services. Seems like an inevitable change.

PS Plus
NS Online
XB Game Pass & XB Live

Probably will just add the Live Gold features into the base $10/month GP sub. Convert people up for free and move on.
 

Stuart360

Member
I wonder if MTX uptake on Gamepass is enough for them to consider just adding Gold into the standard $10 Gamepass deal, or maybe just upping that to like $12 or so.
They already do the $1 trick already so they may feel its worth it to basically get pretty much all Xbox users onto Gamepass.
Wasnt it something like 70% of all gaming revenue last year was MTX or something?, i wouldnt be surprised if MTX sales are huge on Gamepass with people not having to fork out$60+ for the games.
 

Topher

Gold Member
$5 more per month and you get gold AND gampeass, a value not available on any other gaming platform in the universe.

Gold has an annual option that costs $60 a year which comes down to $5 a month. To play online, those XLG members (which would probably be the vast majority I would think) would be paying $10 more a month. 300% 200% increase.

Edit: Thanks to Daytonabot Daytonabot for math correction.
 
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The issue seems to be the annual cost. Gold is only $60 a year but Game pass has no specific annual rate. If they merged Xbox Game pass and Gold together I highly doubt it would be $60 year although if they did it would be an unbelievable value.
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Last time they tried to mess with Gold's pricing structure, the backlash was so severe they had to back peddle within 24 hrs. I don't see this happening. If there's any chance of anything like this, it won't happen before the Activision deal is closed and they start putting out games for Xbox/Game Pass first.

Anyway, it's just a rumor right now. GAF loves it's industry insiders.
 
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Jennings

Member
They should just make multiplayer free for those that have already bought into the Xbox ecosystem and dump the rest of Gold's benefits and say that if you want games then subscribe to Gamepass.
 

93xfan

Banned
Xbox Live Gold as a separate service will def be phased out at some point now that Sony merged PS Now into PS Plus.

Microsoft are the only one left with 2 sub services. Seems like an inevitable change.

PS Plus
NS Online
XB Game Pass & XB Live

Probably will just add the Live Gold features into the base $10/month GP sub. Convert people up for free and move on.

Been thinking they may add online gaming for $10 Gamepass.

$5 gwg and online
$10 Gamepass and online
$15 gwg, Gamepass and online

Keep in mind both gwg and Gamepass both come with unique discounts.

GPU gives you EA play and special offers as well as online play and GwG.
 
Just create a new tier when they raise prices.

They are in a pickle. If Sony gets normies to subscribe to PS+ Extra simply because they perceive it as a “gamepass”. Without offering any new games, I would be tighttt.
 

odhiex

Member
I don't think It's going to get any cheaper.

Either they keep it in the base Gamepass with the same price (less GWG) or raise the base price, or make a new tier (unlikely).
 
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D

Deleted member 471617

Unconfirmed Member
This will be a great move for both Microsoft and the consumer. Move consumers from Gold only to Game Pass Ultimate for whatever their duration left on Gold is. Get so much more for the same price. Also, Gold is obsolete honestly and with Microsoft pushing Play Anywhere, the paywall for Online Multi-player needs to be eliminated. If it was up to me, I would move all Gold only subscribers to Game Pass Ultimate who lose nothing and gain a shit ton. Then, I simply eliminate Gold completely. All online games are now free to play with the paywall being gone. Games with Gold has sucked for a very long time.

Add in the Family Plan later this year and even more value for Xbox consumers/gamers with less restrictions and paywalls.
 

Jaybe

Member
All they truly care about related to gaming at the Executive level is Game Pass subscriptions (see link below).

MS will figure some way to push Gold subs to Game Pass, whether it be eroding the value of Gold (price hike attempted, F2P games now playable online without Gold) or incorporating into base Game Pass, possibly outright removing the Gold option. Maybe they do this in a consumer-friendly way, maybe they don’t.

“Xbox Game Pass subscriber growth is also the only gaming metric on the payment plan for Microsoft executives. In other words, CEO Satya Nadella and others may miss out on bonuses for underperforming.”

https://www.vg247.com/xbox-game-pass-subscriber-growth-below-expectations
 
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RPS37

Member
At this point I’d probably be down.
I’ve had XBL since Halo 2 and I got 5 months of GP free back in December.
I’d welcome MS combining the two at some point.
 

MScarpa

Member
Yurinka is going to lose his mind if this happens 😂 I'm here for the meltdown and spin. Make it happen pleaseeeeee
 
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S0ULZB0URNE

Member
All they truly care about related to gaming at the Executive level is Game Pass subscriptions (see link below).

MS will figure some way to push Gold subs to Game Pass, whether it be eroding the value of Gold (price hike attempted, F2P games now playable online without Gold) or incorporating into base Game Pass, possibly outright removing the Gold option. Maybe they do this in a consumer-friendly way, maybe they don’t.

“Xbox Game Pass subscriber growth is also the only gaming metric on the payment plan for Microsoft executives. In other words, CEO Satya Nadella and others may miss out on bonuses for underperforming.”

https://www.vg247.com/xbox-game-pass-subscriber-growth-below-expectations
If they make online multiplayer free that's what I'll do.
If they want to combine them it shouldn't charge more than the $60 a year if they don't I'll stay with that.
 

kingfey

Banned
I can afford a shiny new XB Series X and pay $70 for games, but $15 a month for a huge game catalog and online play? Microsoft are clearly taking the piss now, do they think I'm made of money!?
Its like people cant keep that same energy.
 

kingfey

Banned
Last time they tried to mess with Gold's pricing structure, the backlash was so severe they had to back peddle within 24 hrs. I don't see this happening. If there's any chance of anything like this, it won't happen before the Activision deal is closed and they start putting out games for Xbox/Game Pass first.

Anyway, it's just a rumor right now. GAF loves it's industry insiders.
MS needs to approach this, they way Sony did.
Just merge the 2 services. Make xbox live gold the base line, and gamepass ultimate, the higher tier.
Improve the baseline gold.
 

ZehDon

Member
Xbox Live Gold is, effectively, free money. Combining it into the default Game Pass sub, raising the baseline price, would push more people away.

Keeping Xbox Live Gold "as is" and increasing the base Game Pass sub price once Activision's games - including Call of Duty - are all Day 1 with a full back catalogue seems more likely, to me. And, frankly, far easier to justify.
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
MS needs to approach this, they way Sony did.
Just merge the 2 services. Make xbox live gold the base line, and gamepass ultimate, the higher tier.
Improve the baseline gold.

$8~10 per month for Game Pass (incl. Game Pass + Gold + GWG)
$15 per month for GPU as it is right now.

I, personally, don't want Gold to go away cause the Gold to GPU conversion is the best value of any of the next gen console subscription services lol.
 

kingfey

Banned
Xbox Live Gold is, effectively, free money. Combining it into the default Game Pass sub, raising the baseline price, would push more people away.

Keeping Xbox Live Gold "as is" and increasing the base Game Pass sub price once Activision's games - including Call of Duty - are all Day 1 with a full back catalogue seems more likely, to me. And, frankly, far easier to justify.
neither options are good. Plus making them seperate is also not a good idea.

MS needs a better way to handle gold. The free games are useless, due to gamepass.

Either cancel that service, or combine it to gamepass, and charge it the same, with 1st party games, but no day1.
 

kingfey

Banned
$8~10 per month for Game Pass (incl. Game Pass + Gold + GWG)
They need to leave the gold price alone. That will piss off xbox gamers. Just adding to gamepass, as 1st tier is much better. Since people can upgrade to gold.

I, personally, don't want Gold to go away cause the Gold to GPU conversion is the best value of any of the next gen console subscription services lol.
Its a great deal for new players. But its headache, the way you use it.
 

Saucy Papi

Member
$8~10 per month for Game Pass (incl. Game Pass + Gold + GWG)
$15 per month for GPU as it is right now.

I, personally, don't want Gold to go away cause the Gold to GPU conversion is the best value of any of the next gen console subscription services lol.
That's probably why they're trying to phase it out. There's a lot of lost cash flow from people using that trick to effectively get 2 years for free and after dropping the amount of cash they did on Blizzard, they gotta recoup those costs somehow.
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
Making everyone go $15/mth = $180 yr would be a hugely tough pill to swallow. Right now it's not a big deal as a lot of people do the $1 or 1 month fee trick (I did). And lots of people surely do basic Gold.

But if they get rid of that deal making everyone going forward pay straight up $15/$180 with no Gold that would suck big time.

I'd still do it as I'm in the ecosystem and for me it's really $90 as I split stuff with a friend doing home sharing. But for single gamers straight up $180/yr, ouch.

As adamsapple said, maybe a mid way point or some kind of deal like $15/mth or annual $120/yr.

I dont see them doing anything since Sony still has their basic PS Essentials tier.
 
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Fredrik

Member
So they’re trying to increase the price, again, and you won’t be able to play online on Xbox for less than $15/month?

Lol let’s see how the community react to that. I expect back-pedaling to happen, again.
 

NinjaBoiX

Member
Xbox Live Gold as a separate service will def be phased out at some point now that Sony merged PS Now into PS Plus.

Microsoft are the only one left with 2 sub services. Seems like an inevitable change.

PS Plus
NS Online
XB Game Pass & XB Live

Probably will just add the Live Gold features into the base $10/month GP sub. Convert people up for free and move on.
Yup, they’ll have no choice but to convert people up to GP if this happens. They’re already pretty much giving it away with the loophole.
 

Three

Member
They need some solution to migrate people over to game pass that are Gold only now but this doesn’t sound accurate. Unless they make Ultimate even more expensive and the key benefit being bundled pc console cloud access. But then that doesn’t do anything for the solo device owners like console only.
Their solution was to double the cost of Xbox Live Gold so that they just subscribe to gamepass instead but that didn’t go down well.
 

anthony2690

Banned
Just do it, atleast we won't have to see people moan about gwg anymore.

I'm sure they will find something else to moan about though.
 

MScarpa

Member
That's probably why they're trying to phase it out. There's a lot of lost cash flow from people using that trick to effectively get 2 years for free and after dropping the amount of cash they did on Blizzard, they gotta recoup those costs somehow.
I found another one. They don't have to RECOUP ANYTHING. Activision/Blizzard isn't suddenly worth ZERO dollars. Now if you mean, they're trying to increase revenue, sure, so is every company in the history of man, but it has NOTHING to do with Activision/Blizzard.

Just for laughs, out of the 25million subs on Gamepass, how many (Do you think) are using this 1$ trick.
 

Three

Member
That's probably why they're trying to phase it out. There's a lot of lost cash flow from people using that trick to effectively get 2 years for free and after dropping the amount of cash they did on Blizzard, they gotta recoup those costs somehow.
The trick was actually a way to migrate people over who wouldn't otherwise while also having people just paying full price. IMO the trick serves its purpose, they aren't phasing out live to stop the trick. The trick exists because they are trying to phase out live.
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
I found another one. They don't have to RECOUP ANYTHING. Activision/Blizzard isn't suddenly worth ZERO dollars. Now if you mean, they're trying to increase revenue, sure, so is every company in the history of man, but it has NOTHING to do with Activision/Blizzard.

Just for laughs, out of the 25million subs on Gamepass, how many (Do you think) are using this 1$ trick.
Good luck trying to convince people who don't understand asset value. These kinds of discussions were had when MS bought them.

Some people think when you buy something (company or house), the value goes to zero and to break even you need to make it back in full. So if Activision is bought for $70 billion, MS has to make $70 billion in profit to break even.

That's how you can tell who owns and home and who rents.
 

Banjo64

cumsessed
Absolutely disastrous and would be a death knell IMO.

They need to roll Gold in to the basic Game Pass plan at £7.99 a month.

Game Pass & online play: £7.99 a month.

Game Pass & online play, EA Play, xCloud & PC Game Pass: £10.99 a month.

If they do this, they are so out of touch.
 
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Boss Mog

Member
I wouldn't mind that at all, I could drop ultimate for the just the console version and save.

EDIT: Oh nvm, just read the OP. They wanna do it by raising the price.
 
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Banjo64

cumsessed
I can afford a shiny new XB Series X and pay $70 for games, but $15 a month for a huge game catalog and online play? Microsoft are clearly taking the piss now, do they think I'm made of money!?
Dumb take.

Why do some people think this boils down to affordability? You aren’t special for being able to afford £10.99 a month, anyone can.

Not everyone wants or needs access to ‘a massive library of games’.

£49.99 a year for little Jimmy to play FIFA, GTA and Destiny online with his friends on his PS5, or £131.88 for him to do the same thing on Xbox. Hmm, yeah good luck with that.
 
They already wanted to raise the price before this is just another way to go about it. Won't affect me much though. I only get it when I get a 1 euro offer for a few months.
 
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