Xbox's new Game Pass Standard tier yanks access to Starfield, Hellblade 2, Diablo 4, and more

Back in July, Microsoft announced sweeping changes to Xbox Game Pass that would see day one releases being removed as a benefit to subscribers of the service's revised basic tier. That new tier - known as Game Pass Standard - is now live, but it turns out subscribers are missing out on more than just new releases: Microsoft has pulled access to over 40 previously available games, including major titles like Starfield, Hellblade 2, and Diablo 4. Microsoft's £10.99/month Xbox Game Pass Standard tier replaces the older Xbox Game Pass for Console tier for anyone wanting access to the Game Pass library. But while the company had previously confirmed the new Standard tier would no longer include access to first-party and other releases on day one (that benefit is now exclusive to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on consoles), it seemingly didn't reveal Standard subscribers would also be losing access to some of the most popular titles already in the Game Pass catalogue. As spotted by Kotaku, however, there are significant absences in the Standard tier catalogue that were previously available as part of a Game Pass for Console subscription. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - introduced to Game Pass back in July - is gone, for instance, as is Diablo 4. Microsoft's Age of Mythology Retold, which released onto Game Pass last week, also isn't in the Standard catalogue, and numerous older first-party titles are missing too. Read more

Xbox's new Game Pass Standard tier yanks access to Starfield, Hellblade 2, Diablo 4, and more

Xbox's new Game Pass Standard tier yanks access to Starfield, Hellblade 2, Diablo 4, and more

Xbox's new Game Pass Standard tier yanks access to Starfield, Hellblade 2, Diablo 4, and more

Xbox's new Game Pass Standard tier yanks access to Starfield, Hellblade 2, Diablo 4, and more

Xbox's new Game Pass Standard tier yanks access to Starfield, Hellblade 2, Diablo 4, and more