Microsoft has launched a new subscription plan for those living in the US. Dubbed Xbox All Access, the subscription offers an Xbox One console of choice along with 24-months of Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold access. Customers can choose between an Xbox One S or an Xbox One X and they get to own the console at no upfront cost.
Microsoft says the console-as-a-service subscription can result in significant savings if the Xbox One S is opted for. At current prices, the combined cost of owning a 1 TB Xbox One S console, a 2 year Xbox Game Pass, and a 2 year Xbox Live Gold subscription comes to around US$660. On the other hand, opting for an Xbox All Access subscription that bundles the Xbox One S, Game Pass, and Xbox Live Gold will cost only US$528 for 24 months. That's a savings of US$132 right out of the box.
Those opting for an Xbox One X All Access plan will have to shell out US$35 per month. The combined savings over a 2 year period is only about US$20 in this case but it does offer the incentive of enjoying a much more powerful console at an affordable monthly fee. Microsoft says that there are no upfront costs involved and no matter the plan you choose, a brand-new Xbox One console is fully yours without any hassles of renting or leasing.
There are a few caveats to remember before one can avail this offer, though. Firstly, this offer is available only for US residents for a limited period and that too, only at a Microsoft Store so others are out of luck although, it is probable that Microsoft is first testing the waters at home before rolling it out in other markets. Secondly, this is open only for 'qualified customers' meaning, one needs to qualify in a credit check that will be handled by Dell Preferred Account (DPA).
DPA offers certain benefits such as no prepayment penalty, zero upfront cost, and 0% APR for 24 months. However, the subscription cannot be terminated after opting in and the Xbox console cannot be returned outside the usual Microsoft Store policies. That said, one can still avail the subscription benefits by paying the cost of the chosen bundle upfront if paying via other payment methods.