GTA V is back on Xbox Game Pass - with a catch
Los Santos is calling our name, and while we're sure most of you have played the fifth mainline Grand Theft Auto game in the decade it's been out, why not take GTA V for another spin? After a brief absence, the most profitable entertainment product of all time is officially back on Xbox Game Pass.
Microsoft's subscription service is arguably one of the Xbox's biggest selling points, offering a mix of classic titles and day-one releases for a reasonable monthly price. We've seen Sony try (and fail) to capture its magic with PlayStation Plus, and while Game Pass isn't perfect, it's arguably the best on the market.
GTA V returns to Game Pass...with a catch
The official Xbox site announced the return of GTA V, and better yet, the release has rolled live now. There's a bit of a tug-of-war with GTA V on Game Pass, with Trevor and co. first finding a home here in April 2020. It was pulled about a month later and replaced with Red Dead Redemption.
GTA V popped up on Game Pass for a second time in April 2021 and boasted Xbox Cloud Gaming, but then vanished in August 2021. This marks the third time you'll be able to play GTA V, although its had a bit of tuning while in the garage. The souped-up version now boasts ray tracing, higher resolution, and 60 FPS.
The fact we're getting the new-gen GTA V port is a bit win for Game Pass, however, you might notice the game's return only includes Cloud and Console - meaning PC players are being locked out of the fun. There's still some refuge for Xbox One owners, as the last-gen version is still available on Game Pass.
It's a new era for Game Pass
Click to enlargeWe're probably all too distracted by the idea of delving back into the crime-riddled caper to notice, but the return of GTA V to Game Pass also marks a milestone for the service. As of July 6, the price of Game Pass is going up.
The new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price is up from $14.99 per month to $16.99 (€14.99/£12.99), while the basic Xbox Game Pass climbs from $9.99 a month to $10.99 (€10.99/£8.99). Game Pass on PC is holding steady with its prices, but then again, it doesn't have the new-gen GTA V.
It wasn't long ago that Microsoft promised prices wouldn't increase if the Activision Blizzard deal goes through, but now we're not so sure. Even though we know Phil Spencer will argue we're overdue and increase, it still stings that we'll see a few extra pennies leaving our account this month.
