Microsoft has quietly removed the long-standing 10% discount on DLC and add-on content for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, replacing it with a new rewards points system. The change coincides with a sweeping price increase across all Game Pass tiers, including a 50% hike for the Ultimate plan, sparking debate among players about the service’s evolving value.
Until now, Game Pass Ultimate members received direct discounts on DLC, expansions, and add-ons. That benefit has now been phased out. Instead, Microsoft says subscribers will earn rewards points with every qualifying purchase—10% back for Ultimate users and 5% for Premium subscribers. The new system applies to all add-ons and expansions, converting what was once an instant discount into a future rebate through Microsoft Rewards. The company confirmed the removal of DLC discounts in a statement to Insider Gaming, clarifying that the change is permanent and part of its broader rewards overhaul.
In practice, this means the savings are no longer immediate. The shift leans into Microsoft’s growing Rewards ecosystem, which allows users to redeem points for Xbox Store credit, Game Pass time, or other digital items. While some see this as a fair trade, others point out that it relies on players staying within the Xbox ecosystem and actively managing points instead of receiving automatic savings at checkout.
The timing of the change hasn’t helped its reception. On October 1, Microsoft rolled out a broad restructuring of Game Pass pricing, increasing rates across all major tiers. The Ultimate plan jumped from $19.99 to $29.99 per month—a 50% increase—while PC Game Pass rose from $11.99 to $16.49. Core and Standard tiers were also renamed, now called Essential and Premium, and priced at $9.99 and $14.99 respectively. Microsoft says the new model reflects expanded access to cloud gaming, day-one releases, and third-party additions like Ubisoft+ Classics, which have been folded into certain tiers.
Not every region is being hit right away. Some countries in Europe and Asia have been granted temporary extensions at the old pricing rates due to regulatory and subscription-cycle adjustments. Microsoft has pledged to give at least 60 days’ notice before implementing the higher rates globally. The company clarified that users who cancel their subscriptions before the new pricing takes effect will lose grandfathered rates if they rejoin later.
Between the DLC discount removal and the subscription price hike, players are feeling the squeeze. The changes represent a clear pivot toward long-term retention through the Rewards program rather than immediate value through discounts. Critics argue that the new system adds unnecessary complexity and makes real savings harder to track, especially when combined with higher monthly costs. Others see it as part of a larger strategy—an attempt by Microsoft to standardize Game Pass as a full-service platform with deeper integrations across PC, console, and cloud.
Still, the company insists that Game Pass remains one of the best-value ecosystems in gaming, touting its growing library and expanded infrastructure as justification for the increases. Whether players agree may depend on how rewarding that new rewards system actually proves to be.
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