What Xbox’s Game Pass Changes Mean for the Service’s Future

Real Time Strategy

Microsoft is raising the price of Xbox Game Pass…again. Join Kaitlyn and Sam as they discuss Microsoft’s decision to hike Xbox Game Pass prices, the changes in tier options, and what Microsoft’s long-term strategy may be.

Then, in the show’s new “Read of the Week” segment, Sam and Kaitlyn discuss Polygon’s Spicy Take Week story about Roger Ebert’s famous quote that “Video games can never be art” and whether or not video games should be deemed art. They may even share their own spicy takes.

Timecodes:

00:00:00 – Intro

00:00:34 – Summer So Far Recap

00:09:07 – Xbox Game Pass Changes

00:27:29 – Can Game Pass Compete with Apple Arcade

00:38:54 – Xbox and Amazon Fire TV

00:43:30 – Read of the Week Segment (Polygon's Spicy Takes Week)

00:56:26 – Kaitlyn’s Spicy Gaming Take

01:00:15 – Sam’s Spicy Gaming Take

01:04:34 – Outro

Stories discussed:

The Verge – Microsoft is hiking the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and launching a new ‘Standard’ tier

IGN – Xbox Game Pass Price Hikes Were ‘Inevitable’, Analysts Say

GamesIndustry.biz – Price hike shows Xbox is determined to make Game Pass work | Opinion

Polygon – Roger Ebert saying video games are not art is still haunting games

Polygon – Watching a video game is basically playing it

Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at [e-mail]. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.