Game Pass Jumps to $29.99 — Can The Outer Worlds 2 and Black Ops 7 Justify the Hike?

Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate jumps to $29.99 per month in November, and that price change arrives just as Xbox gets some of its biggest releases of the year. This could push players to re-evaluate whether subscribing is the better deal or not, especially with The Outer Worlds 2 arriving right before the holiday window.

1. Game Pass price change
2. The Outer Worlds 2: release and purchase options
3. Playtime and subscription math
4. Other November additions and departures
5. What Microsoft shares about subscribers

Game Pass price change

Beginning in November, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will cost $29.99 per month. That represents a 50% increase from the previous Ultimate price. Many players will face a direct choice: pay the new monthly fee for day-one access to some big releases, or buy those games outright.

The Outer Worlds 2: release and purchase options

Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds 2 is set to release on October 29. Players can buy the standard game for $69.99, or get day-one access through Game Pass.

The Board is excited to announce we have employed 5 Million spacers in the Halcyon Colony! ✨ We've sent you a mock apple and Spectrum Vodka to celebrate this achievement and our 4th anniversary! Do not fret; we've covered the cost of this celebration gift with your paycheck. 🍾 pic.twitter.com/rUnpi8JBGE

— The Outer Worlds (@OuterWorlds) October 25, 2023

Additionally, there is a premium edition that grants early access. If you already have Game Pass, you can pay an extra $29.99 to upgrade and gain that premium early access. Thus, the immediate comparison for some players becomes $69.99 versus $29.99 plus the new monthly fee if they subscribe just to play it on day one.

Playtime and subscription math

How long The Outer Worlds 2 will take depends on playstyle, but the first game ranged between 15 to 40 hours for most players. Therefore, some subscribers who sign up specifically for one big title may need the service for multiple months to finish it comfortably.

Consequently, the short-term subscription cost can add up and sometimes exceed the cost of buying a single game outright, depending on how long you keep the subscription active. On the other hand, Game Pass includes many other titles, which can change the value calculation for some players.

Other November additions and departures

Microsoft is adding several titles around this period. Notable incoming dates include:

• PowerWash Simulator 2 — Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X on Oct. 23
• 1000xResist — Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X on Nov. 4
• Football Manager 26 — PC and Xbox Series X on Nov. 4

Meanwhile, a few games are scheduled to leave Game Pass at the end of October:

• Jusant — Cloud, Console, and PC
• Metal Slug Tactics — Cloud, Console, and PC
• Return to Monkey Island — Cloud, Console, and PC

What Microsoft shares about subscribers

Microsoft does not publish detailed, title-by-title subscriber numbers for Game Pass. As a result, external observers cannot directly verify how many subscriptions come from a given release. However, November’s lineup — including The Outer Worlds 2 on Oct. 29 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on Nov. 14 — is widely seen as strategically timed for the holiday sales period.

Ultimately, whether Game Pass feels like a better deal will depend on how many games a player uses during their subscription and how long they keep it active. For now, the November schedule will serve as a clear test of the new pricing in practice.