In January 2024, Microsoft will discontinue the provision of free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to the majority of its 238,000 employees. While they will still have the option to purchase a reduced-price 12-month subscription, this decision has not been well-received by many employees.
Concerns regarding this change have been raised by Microsoft employees, prompting Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer to express his surprise and promise to investigate the matter further. The decision does not affect Xbox employees, who will continue to enjoy the benefit.
Microsoft has not disclosed its game pass subscriber numbers for nearly two years. However, with the recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard King, the company is poised to potentially increase its subscriber count. Games like Starfield, which remains popular months after its release, have attracted many players to Xbox and PC Game Pass.
Starting in 2024, Microsoft plans to include Activision and Blizzard games in its service, potentially further boosting its subscriber base. There is even speculation about the addition of a World of Warcraft monthly subscription.
The future of Game Pass appears promising, which explains why Microsoft employees are disappointed about losing this benefit. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers subscribers access to hundreds of games on both Xbox and PC, game streaming, and free in-game items, all for a monthly fee of $16.99. While this may not seem significant, it is disheartening that employees are no longer guaranteed free access to this service.
It remains to be seen how Microsoft will navigate this decision and what lies ahead for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Source: DOTESPORTS
