The Value Question
With Microsoft’s recent Game Pass price hike, a lot of players are asking the same thing: is it still worth it? At $29.99 a month, or about $360 a year, Game Pass Ultimate is now more expensive than Netflix Premium and more than double the cost of PlayStation Plus Premium.
For some players, the math still works. If someone regularly buys one AAA game per month, Game Pass Ultimate can still be a deal if those games are on the service. The same logic applies if you have a backlog of Game Pass titles you’ve been meaning to play. In that sense, it’s still cheaper than buying them all individually.
The key word there is if. The real value depends on what you actually play, not what’s theoretically available.
The PC Sweet Spot
The lesser-discussed hero here might be PC Game Pass. Even with the increase to $16.49 per month, it remains a good value. It includes day-one releases, EA Play, and Ubisoft+ Classics… basically everything except cloud gaming and cross-saves.
For many, that’s fine. The price is roughly in line with Netflix, and PC players already have a buffet of free games from Epic Games Store and Amazon Prime each month. Combine that with how affordable and creative indie games have become, and the PC ecosystem is quietly the most cost-effective space in gaming.
If you primarily play on PC, you’re still in a sweet spot.
Microsoft’s Bigger Plan
Microsoft’s moves lately hint at something much bigger than just subscription adjustments. The next Xbox console is expected to be a Windows-hybrid system, part of a long-term goal to make Windows the unified gaming operating system.
In theory, this could simplify development. Creators would only need to design for one OS that spans both PC and console. That means games would run more consistently, updates could be standardized, and the wall between PC and Xbox could finally come down.
This feels less like Xbox vs. PlayStation and more like Windows vs. PlayStation, where Windows represents both PC and console as one ecosystem.
A Wild (But Exciting) Possibility
If Microsoft goes all-in on a hybrid Windows console, it could open the door to something players have dreamed about for years. Modular gaming hardware.
Imagine if the new “console” acted more like a mid-tier PC that could swap parts. What if you could upgrade your hybrid console with your old PC graphics card? It’s unlikely right now, but the idea isn’t impossible.
Hardware manufacturers would probably love this model. It would mean fewer specialized console parts and more flexibility for players. The line between console and PC would blur entirely.
Why PlayStation Should Worry
If Microsoft executes this shift properly, it could be devastating for PlayStation. The more unified Windows becomes, the harder it’ll be for Sony to compete on exclusivity.
Right now, PlayStation thrives on locking down games you can’t play elsewhere. If a massive combined PC-console audience can play the same titles through Game Pass or direct purchase, the financial incentive to release a game only on PlayStation gets smaller every year.
Exclusivity works best when ecosystems are separate. Microsoft’s strategy seems focused on erasing those walls altogether.
So, What Should Players Do?
If you’re a console-only player, Game Pass Ultimate’s new price might not make sense anymore, especially if you’re only using it for a few specific titles. If you’re already thinking about switching to PC gaming, this is a good time to start saving.
A gaming PC gives you flexibility: you can run Windows or Linux, access Game Pass PC, take advantage of free games, and play titles that might never reach console.
The subscription price hike doesn’t make Game Pass bad. It just makes it clear what Microsoft’s real goal is. Game Pass was never about short-term value. It was about building a Windows-based future where Xbox isn’t a console. It’s a platform.
Game Pass is still valuable, but only if you use it in the ecosystem it’s designed for. Microsoft isn’t selling a subscription anymore. They’re selling a future where everything runs on Windows, and the console is just one of many doors into it.
If you play on PC, you’re in the perfect position. If you play on console, it might be time to rethink where you’re investing your money.
