Microsoft Lowers Xbox Game Pass Pricing, Introduces Cloud Gaming and Discord Nitro in Starter Tier, Sparking Mixed Reactions Across Tech Media
Microsoft has announced a new, lower-priced tier for its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, dubbed Game Pass Starter, which will launch in select markets on May 20, 2025.
The new tier will be priced at €3.99 per month in Europe and $3.99 in the United States, offering access to a curated library of over 25 games, cloud gaming via Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), and a three-month subscription to Discord Nitro as a promotional bonus. This represents a significant reduction from the current Xbox Game Pass Core plan, which costs €6.99/$9.99 monthly and includes online multiplayer and access to a similar but smaller selection of titles.
According to internal documents reviewed by Xbox Wire, the Starter tier is designed to attract casual and mobile-focused players who may not require the full breadth of the Game Pass library but still want access to cloud-enabled gaming and popular multiplayer titles. The inclusion of Discord Nitro — valued at $9.99 for three months — is intended to enhance the social and communication aspects of gameplay, particularly for users engaging in cooperative or competitive titles available through the service.
The announcement follows a broader strategic shift by Microsoft to restructure its Game Pass offerings after recent price adjustments to the Ultimate and Standard tiers. In early 2025, Microsoft increased the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from €14.99 to €17.99 monthly in Europe and from $16.99 to $19.99 in the U.S., citing rising content and infrastructure costs. The Standard tier, which lacks access to day-one releases, also saw a price increase to €10.99/$12.99.
Despite these increases, Microsoft confirmed that the Starter tier will not include access to new first-party titles on their release date, a feature reserved exclusively for the Ultimate tier. Games such as the upcoming Starfield: Shattered Space expansion and Fable reboot will remain unavailable to Starter subscribers at launch.
Industry analysts note that the introduction of a budget tier reflects Microsoft’s effort to expand Game Pass penetration in price-sensitive markets and among users primarily interested in cloud gaming rather than local downloads. The service currently reports over 34 million subscribers globally, according to the company’s most recent earnings call in January 2025.
Microsoft has not disclosed whether the Starter tier will be made available in all regions where Game Pass operates, nor has it provided details on the long-term sustainability of the Discord Nitro bundling beyond the initial promotional period. The company stated that user feedback and adoption rates will determine future adjustments to the tier’s features, and pricing.