Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has gone live now for Xbox Insiders in the form a beta. Combining Xbox Live and Game Pass with a $14.99 a month subscription.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is Now Available for Preview Beta Xbox Insiders
Microsoft previously unveiled their new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription last month which puts togetherXbox Live GoldandXbox Game Passinto a single subscription, available for $14.99 a month. This saves current Xbox players about $5 a month if they were to pay for both services separately ($19.98). During the beta the service will be available at an introductory price of $1 per month.
Xbox Game Ultimate - Combined Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold
This allows players to access Xbox exclusive games through Xbox Game Pass on day one of launch. Choosing to buy a game in Game Pass allows you a 10 percent discount to members. Current titles includeMutant Year Zero,For the King,Operencia the Stolen Sun,Shadow of the Tomb Raider,Fallout 4,Black Desertand more.The Surgeis also coming to Game Pass on May 16th.
You also gain Xbox Live Gold benefits which include playing online multiplayer, four free games every month which contain two Xbox One titles and two Xbox 360 titles that are backwards compatible and you get to keep them.
Who Can Preview
At the moment the new service is available through beta for Xbox Insiders, who will test out the service and help to provide feedback. Currently the availability is limited to English speaking Xbox Insiders based in US, UK, Canada and Australia in Preview Alpha, Preview Alpha - Skip Ahead or Preview Beta.
Upgrading to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
In an announcement on theXbox Wire, the post explained how existing Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold subscriptions can be upgraded to the new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, as well as how current remaining time is converted:
When upgrading to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, theremaining time on your Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold subscriptionswill be converted to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time at a 1 to 1 ratio each based on days remaining, up to a maximum of 36 months. For example, if you have 12 months of Xbox Live Gold time remaining, and 12 months of Xbox Game Pass time remaining, this will be converted to 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate when you upgrade.
We are currently validating the functionality to apply additional Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Live Gold tokens towards your existing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. As this functionality is still being tested,for a limited time you will be unable to redeem Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Live Gold tokens after upgrading. For this reason, we recommend redeeming any Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Live Gold tokens prior to upgrading to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Microsoft are also working on theirxCloud game servicewhich will allow gaming from “any screen” with games on demand, just like music or movies. Trials for the xCloud game streaming service is expected to release later this year. So far only a few details have been shared on how this works, but exact pricing or availability has not been detailed.
For more Microsoft news find it here inMicrosoft E3 2019 Press Conference Announced For June 9thandMicrosoft Reveals Project XCloud Game Streaming Service Trials Starting 2019. You can also now enjoy the backwards compatible titleCastlevania: Harmony Of Despair.
