PC Game Pass will be getting a $2 price increase starting September 12 as Microsoft reorganizes its subscription service to "respond to changing market conditions." That means PC Game Pass subscribers will see their monthly price increase from $9.99 to $11.99, but things are a bit more complicated and unfavorable for their console friends.

Most notably, the new Xbox Game Pass price point will eliminate one of the subscription service's biggest selling points, the first day release of Microsoft's first-party titles. The new tier is called Xbox Game Pass Standard and, in Microsoft's words, will offer "hundreds of high-quality games that you can play on your console" in addition to access to console multiplayer (yes, console users are still paying for multiplayer (Yes, console users are still paying for multiplayer). It costs $14.99 per month, $2 less than Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

At least $2 cheaper until Xbox Game Pass Ultimate increases from $16.99 to $19.99 in September. This tier gives access to first-party Microsoft games from day one, in addition to cloud streaming services.

In other words, it appears that Microsoft is preparing to make as much cash as possible for Black Ops 6, which will be available on day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate but not with Xbox Game Pass Standard. Overall, access to the game on "day one" will cost an additional $6 per month, and there is no word on how long it will take for the game to reach the Standard tier (if it ever does, in the case of a big-name title like Black Ops 6).

Still, existing subscribers to Xbox Game Pass for Console ($10.99/month) will not be hit with this change. However, once cancelled, the service will be permanently unavailable.

This follows the general pattern of Internet-centric subscription services: start out as something almost unbelievably good, then gradually drop to something a bit more realistic (or in many cases pretty crappy, but PC Game Pass remains a good deal even after the price increase PC Game Pass doesn't change with the price change, but given how far behind Xbox is from competing consoles, it's risky to make Xbox Game Pass, one of the console's biggest selling points, a little less accessible. It would be dangerous to do so.