Microsoft Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass Price Rises Sharply in India
Highlights
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate rises to INR 1,389 per month from INR 649, while PC Game Pass jumps to INR 939 per month for Indian gamers.
- Price increases go into effect on October 1 for new subscribers and on November 4 for current users, adding new games but reducing affordability.
- Tier changes introduce “Essential” and “Premium” plans, with many lamenting more than a 200% increase for PC Game Pass in India.
Indian gamers face steep price hikes for Xbox Game Pass subscriptions beginning today, a move that lands in one of the world’s most volume-driven yet price-sensitive markets. Monthly costs for Ultimate and PC tiers are rising sharply, while new “Essential” and “Premium” tiers are being launched alongside game library expansions. India’s mobile and console gaming ecosystem is dominated by free-to-play and microtransaction models, and even modest price changes can have negative effects for gamers.
Major Xbox Game Pass Price Hike in India
Microsoft has implemented a dramatic rise in Game Pass prices for the Indian market, starting October 1 for all new subscribers and set to impact ongoing subscriptions from November 4. The popular Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, previously available at INR 649 per month, now costs INR 1,380 monthly in India, reflecting a jump of over 100%. PC Game Pass has surged from INR 449 to a staggering INR 939 per month. For console players, the rebranded Game Pass Core (now "Essential") moves from INR 1,999 to INR 3,349 annually, while six-month plans see similarly sharp increases.
Microsoft / Xbox
Microsoft says the price adjustments accompany expanded features and substantial additions to its game library, including over 45 new titles this month and continued day-one launches for Ultimate and PC Game Pass tiers. Yet, many Indian gamers now find the service less accessible, and rising costs are putting pressure on those who previously considered Game Pass the market’s most affordable gaming subscription.
Game Pass now consists of three tiers: Essential, Premium, and Ultimate. Essential covers multiplayer and basic cloud gaming at unchanged rates, Premium takes the place of the older Standard tier, and Ultimate offers maximum value, but at its newly increased price point. The rapid jump, especially for PC Game Pass, has caused frustration, with users on Indian gaming forums noting the monthly cost more than doubled overnight and questioning Microsoft’s focus on global pricing parity versus regional affordability.
Some users are trying to “stack” their subscriptions with lower-priced codes using physical cards before the change fully takes effect, but options are quickly dwindling. As new premium games and features roll out, the ultimate challenge for Microsoft will be balancing content value with accessibility for a price-sensitive market like India. These changes arrive amid continued economic uncertainty and shifting patterns in game consumption, making affordability a core issue as Indian gamers reconsider their subscription options
Author
Abhimannu Das is a web journalist at Outlook India with a focus on Indian pop culture, gaming, and esports. He has over 10 years of journalistic experience and over 3,500 articles that include industry deep dives, interviews, and SEO content. He has worked on a myriad of games and their ecosystems, including Valorant, Overwatch, and Apex Legends.
Abhimannu Das is a web journalist at Outlook India with a focus on Indian pop culture, gaming, and esports. He has over 10 years of journalistic experience and over 3,500 articles that include industry deep dives, interviews, and SEO content. He has worked on a myriad of games and their ecosystems, including Valorant, Overwatch, and Apex Legends.
