Rumor Says Microsoft Could Bundle World of Warcraft/Minecraft Realms/Fallout 1st/ESO Plus Into Game Pass Ultimate
Microsoft may be exploring a major value upgrade for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate by bundling additional first party subscriptions into the plan, according to comments made by Windows Central’s Jez Corden during a recent livestream. The rumor lands at a sensitive time for Game Pass perception, following the 29.99$ monthly price point that has been live since October First 2025, which sparked ongoing debate about whether Ultimate still feels like the best deal for core Xbox players.
In the livestream, Corden referenced earlier reporting from Tom Warren about Microsoft looking at ways to add more value to Game Pass Ultimate, then added that he has heard Microsoft has been exploring the idea of integrating first party subscriptions. Specifically, he mentioned World of Warcraft, Minecraft Realms, Fallout 1st, and The Elder Scrolls Online Plus as services Microsoft could consider folding into Game Pass Ultimate to make the 29.99$ monthly cost feel more justified for a broader audience.
Strategically, the logic is clear. Microsoft already has multiple large scale subscription ecosystems across its biggest owned IP, and bundling them into Ultimate would transform Game Pass from a game library plus benefits package into something closer to a unified entertainment membership. In market terms, that would be a classic retention play: reduce churn by increasing perceived value per month, and make Ultimate harder to cancel because it becomes the hub for multiple active services.
The catch is economics and structure. Even if Microsoft wants to bundle these subscriptions, it likely cannot do it without adjusting how those individual services work inside the bundle, such as limitations, tiering, add on upgrades, or region specific rules. World of Warcraft alone is a premium subscription with a long established pricing model, while Fallout 1st and ESO Plus include monthly currency allowances and account perks that would need careful reconciliation inside a single membership.
Still, the upside for players is huge if even 1 of these services is added. Here is what the included value stack could look like if Microsoft bundled any of them into Game Pass Ultimate.
Current price snapshot for the services discussed
| Subscription | Monthly Price | Annual Price | What's Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Game Pass Ultimate | $29.99 | N/A | Xbox and PC Game Pass library, online multiplayer, EA Play, cloud gaming, Fortnite Crew, Ubisoft+ Classics |
| World of Warcraft | $14.99 | $155.88 ($12.99/month) | Access to all WoW retail and Classic content. Latest expansion excluded. |
| Minecraft Realms Plus | $7.99 | N/A | Private server for you and up to 10 players. 150+ rotating Marketplace content packs. |
| Fallout 1st | $12.99 | $99.99 | Private world for up to 8 players, Scrapbox, Survival Tent, 1,650 Atoms per month, exclusive cosmetics. |
| ESO Plus | $14.99 | $139.99 | All previously released DLC game packs and dungeons. Craft Bag, 1,650 Crowns per month, double bank space. Tamriel Tome battle pass premium tokens. Increased transmute crystal cap and housing furnishing limits. |
If Microsoft does move forward, the first question becomes prioritization. World of Warcraft would instantly make Ultimate more compelling for PC MMO players, Minecraft Realms would widen family and creator appeal, Fallout 1st targets live service survival builders, and ESO Plus brings a deep RPG catalog and strong recurring value. Any 1 of those could be positioned as the headline value driver, while the others could remain optional add ons or limited perk variants.
For now, it remains a rumor and an exploration, not a confirmed rollout. But if Microsoft wants to stabilize the Ultimate story at 29.99$, bundling owned subscriptions is one of the most direct levers it can pull without relying on external partnerships.
If you could only pick 1 subscription to add into Game Pass Ultimate, which one would you choose: World of Warcraft, Minecraft Realms, Fallout 1st, or ESO Plus?
