Game Pass Standard, a new middle tier in the Netflix-like subscription service’s ever-expanding menu of options, won’t get some games that hit the higher tiers on day one for up to a year or longer, Microsoft revealed today. The cheaper version is going into preview mode for Xbox Insiders for $1 ahead of its official launch in September.

During the test period, Xbox Insiders will be able to access Xbox Game Pass Standard for just $1. “Any renewals during the preview period will also be $1 per month,” says Megan Spurr, senior community lead for Xbox Game Pass. Once this Standard tier launches fully, it will be priced at $14.99 per month.

Subscribers will be able to play the shooter in early access open beta before its launch in October.

Microsoft details the new $14.99/month Xbox Game Pass Standard tier that will replace the now-defunct $9.99 Console tier, will not include day one games.

Xbox Game Pass users who are subscribed to the service's Core tier can look forward to three more titles joining its growing library.

Microsoft has confirmed the next batch of titles headed to Xbox Game Pass for the latter half of August: Atlas Fallen,

On October 25th, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be another day one release on Xbox Game Pass. Fans of the series still have a while to wait, but Game Pass subscribers can check out the early access open beta on August 30th. The open beta is normally accessible to those that pre-order the game, but it will be open to Game Pass subscribers as well.

Microsoft reveals the second wave of August 2024 additions to Xbox Game Pass, which contains one surprise release and one surprise omission.

Microsoft has confirmed the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate games due to hit the service during wave 2 of24. As well as the previously confirmed day-one release of Core Keeper, there will be three more games added soon including the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Early Access Open Beta.

With the confirmation of yet another Blizzard game for Microsoft's subscription program, Xbox Game Pass is becoming fan favourite pretty quickly. Activision/Blizzard has been dedicated to adding some of its most popular games to Game Pass over the past few months,