There were rumors last week that Microsoft is launching a new monthly financing program called Xbox All-Access that bundles an Xbox One console with Xbox Live and Xbox Game Pass for a monthly fee. That program is real, and it’s currently available on the Microsoft Store.
Xbox All-Access gives subscribers a Xbox One X or Xbox One S, Xbox Live Gold, and Xbox Game Pass for no upfront cost as long as they sign a two-year contract. The Xbox One S plan starts at $22 per month, while the Xbox One X plan starts at $35. That price is pretty comparable, if not less than, what useres would pay to buy the products separately. A Xbox One X costs $500, while Xbox Live is $60 per year and Game Pass is $10 per month.
All-Access is a financing program, not a leasing program, and it’s similar to how smartphone plans work. Members own the consoles they finance, while the monthly fee covers the cost of both the hardware and the services. The deal reportedly works with any Xbox One hardware or bundle.
Of course, there are a few caveats. If you want to break the contract before the two years are up, you’ll have to pay the remaining cost of the hardware. Plus, Microsoft says it’s a “limited-time offer” and it’s only available to “qualified customers.” Anyone interested in the deal has to apply for a Dell Preferred Account.
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Microsoft told Variety in a recent interview it wants to “reduce the friction and barriers for people who want to play games,” and All-Access could be a good way to do so, while also boosting Xbox Live and Game Pass subscriptions. Game Pass members spend 20% more time playing after signing up for the service, Microsoft said. The company also saw a 40% increase in how many games a subscriber plays, and franchises with multiple entries saw a significant increase in purchases if one of the titles was offered through Game Pass.
