Gab Hernandez 
Microsoft has revealed how long Standard Game Pass subscribers will have to wait before gaining access to Day One titles.
2024 has not been the calmest of years for Microsoft’s gaming division. With over 900 employees laid off in the first quarter alone, the Xbox and gaming division saw many overhauls. The changes weren’t just internal, though. One of the most notable and controversial changes Microsoft implemented involved Game Pass.
One of the rare ideas that fans universally praised, Game Pass was essentially the “Netflix” of video game subscriptions. For an affordable price, Xbox players can access hundreds of games, including games that had just released. However, all that changed when Microsoft introduced tiers to the Game Pass platform. Now, only those subscribed to the $19.99 Ultimate tier can get Day One games.
That doesn’t mean Standard Game Pass subscribers will never get those games. They just won’t get them soon.
Will Standard Xbox Game Pass subscribers get Day One titles?
Standard Game Pass subscribers will not get Day One titles on launch and Microsoft has confirmed these titles may be added to Standard after 12 months or more.
In a recent update on the official Xbox website, Microsoft offered a forecast for how Xbox Game Pass Standard subscriptions will work. The Standard subscription features hundreds of games, online multiplayer, and exclusive deals and discounts.
Meanwhile, Ultimate includes all that, plus Day One releases and an EA Play membership. Fans have heavily criticized the exclusivity of the Ultimate tier, especially after Microsoft’s previous promises. The American FTC filed a letter against Microsoft, stating the new Game Pass system is a “degraded” product at a higher price point.
Regardless of the criticisms, Microsoft will roll out the new tiers soon. From the start, fans realized how timed exclusives have become a recurring theme in the modern Xbox era. Recently, Microsoft-owned Bethesda Studios revealed a PS5 port for the upcoming Indiana Jones game. Whereas Xbox players will get to enjoy the game in December 2024, PS5 fans must wait until Spring 2025 to play it.
The new tiers of Game Pass will be a trial by fire for the overhauled service. Whether it survives 2025 or reverts to the original system remains to be seen.
