Xbox Discontinues $1 Game Pass Promotion Prior to Starfield Launch

Timing with Starfield's Early Access

This removal is notably timed just ahead of the early access release of Starfield on August 31, according to US time zones.

Starfield and Xbox Game Pass

Starfield's standard version, priced at $70 and including the base game, will be accessible via the Xbox Game Pass subscription.

For those eyeing more exclusive content, the Digital Premium Edition and the $300 Constellation Edition offer the game's first story expansion, 'Shattered Space,' along with up to five days of early access before Starfield's official release on September 6.

Game Pass Price Changes

This summer's return of the $1 Game Pass promo coincided with Microsoft's move to hike Game Pass subscription prices across multiple markets. Exclusions to this price rise included Norway, Chile, Denmark, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia.

Effective from July 6, the monthly fee for the Xbox Game Pass for console users increased from $9.99 to $10.99 (£7.99 to £8.99/€9.99 to €10.99). Similarly, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate saw a price bump from $14.99 to $16.99 per month (£10.99 to £12.99/€12.99 to €14.99).