If you’re in the market for a new console (and you don’t want to wait for the next Xbox, codename Scarlett, to come out… though there are upgrade options we’ll describe below), you have to hear about Xbox All Access. Xbox All Access is a monthly subscription that includes an Xbox console as well as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (which includes Xbox Live Gold). In other words, for one monthly price (paid for 24 months), you can get a console, hundreds of games to play on that console, and full online functionality. Sure, Xbox All Access might be a nice all-in-one bundle, but is it actually worth it? Let’s break it down.
Xbox All Access: An Xbox And Game Pass Ultimate For One Monthly Price
With Xbox All Access, no matter which console you pick, you pay a flat monthly fee for 24 months for a console and Game Pass Ultimate. You get to keep the console after this two year period is up, of course. Let’s dive into the value of each of the specific bundles.
Xbox One S All Digital Edition All Access
The cheapest Xbox All Access option is the one for the Xbox One S All Digital Edition, which cannot read game discs. However, with Game Pass, you won’t ever need to use a physical game disc. For $19.99/month for 24 months, you get the console (which you get to keep after the two years is up) and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for that two year period. Bought separately, 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at $14.99 a month would be $359.76, and the console itself runs $249.99 or $199.99 when it’s on sale. Taking the lower price, the cost of separately buying the console and Game Pass Ultimate for 24 months would then be $559.75. Since $19.99 a month for 24 months equals out to $479.76, this cheapest tier is a very solid deal.
Xbox One S All Access
The next step up is for the Xbox One S, which is similar to the One S digital edition but can still read physical discs. This All Access bundle costs slightly more, at $22.99 a month. Let’s do the math. 24 months of Game Pass Ultimate is still $359.76, of course. The console itself typically retails for $299.99, but you can get it for as cheap as $235. Taking the lower price, the cost of separately buying the console and Game Pass Ultimate for 24 months would be $594.76. Since $22.99 a month for 24 months equals out to $551.76, this is still a good deal, but less good of a deal than the All Digital Edition bundle.
Xbox One X All Access
Finally, the most expensive tier (with the best performing console) is for the Xbox One X, which can run games substantially better than the One S (either editions). This bundle costs $30.99 a month. Again, 24 months of Game Pass Ultimate is $359.76. The console itself typically retails for $499.99, but you can get it for as cheap as $429.99. Taking the lower price, the cost of separately buying the console and Game Pass Ultimate for 24 months would be $789.75. Since $30.99 a month for 24 months equals out to $743.76, this is still a good deal, but the All Digital Edition bundle still wins out as the best value.
Upgrade To Xbox Scarlett!
The Xbox All Access bundles also let you upgrade to Xbox Scarlett once it comes out next year, with Xbox One X subscribers having the opportunity after 12 months and Xbox One S (either edition) subscribers having the opportunity after 18 months. If you want to read the exact terms dealing with the upgrade process, you can do so here. You might find that it’s a good deal even if you plan on upgrading to the next Xbox as soon as possible.
At the end of the day, the Xbox All Access bundles are all good deals, even if you might not save that much money by the end of 24 months compared to how much the upfront costs would be. Still, for people on a tight budget, this is kind of like putting an Xbox and a bunch of games on layaway, but you get it right away and you actually save money over time. While Xbox All Access might not be for everyone, it’s worth checking out depending on what your needs are.
