Just in time for the holidays, Microsoft is rolling out three new Xbox All Access bundles. Xbox All Access allows buyers to pay a monthly fee across a span of 24 months, but provides an immediate Xbox One S, Xbox One S All-Digital, or Xbox One X console as well as an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Subscribers are also able to upgrade to a new Xbox console after either 12 or 18 months, depending on the service, by resubscribing to a new Xbox All Access subscription plan.
The two Xbox All Access base bundles are as follows. The Xbox One S and Xbox One S All-Digital plans cost $22.99 or $19.99 a month respectively with a contract time of 24 months total. Buyers will have their new console delivered after placing their order, as well as receive 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Game Pass Ultimate includes both Xbox Live Gold for access to online multiplayer, as well as Game Pass which features a library of over 100 games to play.
These two base Xbox All Access bundles also offer an upgrade path to a new console next generation. To do so with these two base bundles would require waiting 18 months after the initial Xbox All Access purchase, after which the buyer can upgrade to a new console by purchasing a new Xbox All Access contract. The buyer would also have to trade in their initial console in order to upgrade, including the console, controller, and power cord.
As for the Xbox One X bundle, Microsoft is offering a special deal. Similar to the two base bundles, the Xbox One X Xbox All Access bundle has a 24-month contract and a monthly payment of $30.99. It also includes 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Instead of having to wait 18 months to upgrade, however, Xbox is including a special holiday 2019 offer that lets buyers upgrade after just 12 months. It's a path to a new Xbox Scarlett console right around when the platforms should be launching.
The question to ask is whether or not these Xbox All Access deals are genuinely worth it. The answer is, of course, complicated. If judged solely on the overall price buyers will be paying, it's definitely a more expensive option than simply buying the console and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on their own. Especially so if you can buy either on sale. But not everyone has $200-$400 for a console and then more for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. In that regard, Xbox All Access is a boon.
Someone can have an Xbox One X and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate near immediately for just $30.99, or an Xbox One S for $22.99. Trading in for an upgrade becomes an even better deal, as ending the contract early turns into a decent trade-in value. That's especially with the Xbox One X to Xbox Scarlett deal. But ultimately buyers will have to pay out at least one full 24-month contract, which will end up costing more than just buying any of the consoles outright. It's a tradeoff.
One final note worth mentioning is that Xbox All Access is very much a contract, specifically a line of credit with Citizens One bank. While there are no late fees, missing a payment can and will be reported to credit bureaus.
Xbox One Access is available now through retailers including Amazon and Microsoft stores.