Xbox Game Pass Removes 14 Day Trial Ahead of Starfield Release

The $1 Xbox Game Pass Trial for Starfield Removed Two Weeks Before Release

Timing Suggests Strategic Move by Microsoft

This isn’t the first time Xbox has taken the Game Pass deal down, but its timing strongly suggests that the company wants to make the most out of anyone playing Starfield through the service. Especially since this was noticed around two weeks before Starfield’s launch, meaning anyone who just got the $1 deal would have to renew it for another month to play the game at all.

Microsoft’s Ever-Changing Game Pass Deals

Microsoft keeps going back and forth on the $1 trial, as it was once much more stable – and more generous. New subscribers in late 2020 got a whooping three months for $1, later changed to a permanent deal of one month for the same price. It then scrapped this deal altogether earlier this year. It was later brought back, but changed to 14 days for $1 instead, making it less generous and not giving players as much of a chance to try out the library before the full price was taken from their accounts.

Future of Xbox Game Pass and Starfield

Now, even the 14-day deal is nowhere to be seen. Given Microsoft’s previous behavior, we can expect it to return later down the line, perhaps after the Starfield hype has brought in more subscribers. After all, Xbox has gone all in on its subscription service and has previously faced criticism for not adding enough big games. Now that it has one on its hands, it will certainly be trying to make the most of it.

Other Recent Changes to Game Pass

This is far from the only recent change to Game Pass. Microsoft recently scrapped Xbox Live, along with its accompanying Games With Gold collection. It’s being replaced by a new “Core” Game Pass tier, giving you online play, but just 25 games to choose from. The middle tiers, PC and Console, have the full library, but not online play. Anyone who wants both will have to pay for Game Pass Ultimate.

Potential Incentives for New Game Pass Subscribers

It remains to be seen if Xbox offers any new incentives for newbies to join Game Pass. However, it could be that it feels that Starfield is incentive enough on its own.