Xbox All Access: price, games, and everything you need to know
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Xbox All Access is a great option if you can’t afford to buy an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S.
It has changed the way gamers buy or upgrade new Xbox consoles for four years – giving players the option to pay for their Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S through a monthly payment plan instead of a one-time payment. With the included Xbox Game Pass Ultimate you really get your money’s worth.
Xbox All Access is a fantastic way to score one of Microsoft’s flagship consoles at an affordable monthly cost, but don’t forget that Cyber Monday 2022 is just around the corner. As such, there’s a chance we’ll see some excellent Cyber Monday Xbox deals for discounts on these coveted consoles. If you’re unsure about Xbox All Access, consider waiting until November 28 and check out our Cyber Monday Live Blog to see if there are great discounts.
It was August 2018 when Microsoft first announced the launch of Xbox All Access, a service that was exclusive to the US at the time and applicable only to the Xbox One S or Xbox One X console. However, now this model has rolled out globally, allowing gamers to upgrade or buy a new Xbox Series X/S at launch, and it’s still going.
But how exactly does Xbox All Access work, is it cheaper in the long run, and – most importantly – is it really the right payment option for you? We’ve put together this handy guide to tell you everything you need to know, including how to sign up and save money on the Xbox Series X price.
Xbox All access
Xbox All Access: where to order
Xbox Series X console orders have been live for the past two years, alongside those for the cheaper and less powerful Xbox Series S orders. So if you want to jump into an Xbox Series X/S today, you can do so through Xbox All Access.
UK customers can join Xbox All Access to order their console as well, either through blacksmith (opens in new tab) Game (opens in new tab)or Microsoft (opens in new tab), straight away. While inventory levels have been virtually non-existent for the longest time, thanks in large part to the Covid-19 pandemic and the global semiconductor shortage, supply has certainly declined in recent months.
For those in the US who want to order through Xbox All Access, Best Buy (opens in new tab)gamestop, Target (opens in new tab), Microsoft Store (opens in new tab)and walmart (opens in new tab) all offer the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S through Xbox All Access. As in the UK, supply has also dwindled in recent months, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a console.
What is Xbox All Access?
Xbox All Access is a subscription service where you pay a monthly fee for your Xbox console, instead of paying a huge amount upfront. It’s kind of like a mortgage — minus the interest — or the way we pay for smartphone contracts.
The subscription service not only includes your Xbox console, but also bundles in 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. That gives access to cloud streaming through Xbox Cloud Gaming, hundreds of Xbox games through Game Pass, over 60 EA games through EA Play and first-party Xbox titles, including Halo Infinite. All in exchange for a permanent contract of two years.
The Game Pass subscription applies across the platform on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Considering how many games Xbox Game Pass Ultimate grants access to, Xbox All Access could be a more affordable option for heavily used gamers who can’t afford an upfront cost. The price of the console, plus the subscription service, is about $10 more than the cost of the subscription service alone.
However, All Access could be a more expensive option in the long run for those who are unlikely to use these add-on services.
Xbox All Access: how much does it cost?
The amount you pay per month depends on which console you decide to ‘subscribe’ to. The Xbox Series X bundle costs $34.99 / £28.99 / AU$46 per month, with a fixed 24-month contract. This bundle includes 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and is available now. An Xbox Series X costs $499 / £449 / AU$749 upfront.
The Xbox Series S bundle costs $24.99 / £20.99 / AU$33 per month, with a fixed 24-month contract. This bundle includes 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and, like the Xbox Series X bundle, is also available now. An Xbox Series S costs $299.99 / £249.99 / AU$499 upfront.
There are also no upfront fees and 0% APR. However, interest will be charged if you miss two consecutive payments, so we don’t recommend signing up unless you have stable income. We can’t stress this enough, Xbox All Access is a contract and missing payments can negatively impact your credit score. It’s not a subscription service to be taken lightly.
Xbox All Access: Important things to know
Before you sign up for Xbox All Access, there are some crucial details to be aware of:
If you return the console, you are still responsible for paying for Xbox Game Pass
Xbox All Access is subject to the standard Microsoft Store return policy. This means that your chosen console has a 30-day return policy. However, Xbox Game Pass is non-returnable and non-refundable. It’s also worth noting that you can’t revert Game Pass Ultimate to a standard Game Pass package once you’re signed up – nor can you cancel it to reduce payments.
Can I cancel Xbox All Access?
The short answer is no, when you purchase the bundle you sign up for a 24 month contract – which is not to be taken lightly. But check with the store where you buy.
It’s yours to keep after the two years
Signing up for Xbox All Access apparently means you own the console and the Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold memberships for 24 months out of the box purchase. But in reality, until you make all your payments, it’s not real yours – that’s why Microsoft asks for your current console back when you choose to upgrade before the minimum payment deadline.
Microsoft’s limited warranty only covers the Xbox console for one year (90 days for the controller and accessories)
If it does not work properly after that, you will be responsible for any repair costs and monthly payments will continue until the remaining balance in your Dell Preferred Account is paid in full.
Balances outstanding at the end of 24 months are subject to APR
Rates range from 19.24% to 29.99% variable APR. The minimum interest charge is $2.
A full credit check must be performed
To sign up for Xbox All Access, you must sign up for a credit agreement with the relevant lender for your region. In the UK this is Klarna Bank AB, who will carry out a full credit check on you. To apply through Klarna you must be a permanent resident of the UK and be at least 18 years old.
“When you apply for financing from Klarna, Klarna will conduct a full credit check with credit reference agencies that provide credit information,” the Xbox All Access FAQ says. “The agencies will record details of the search, which will appear in your credit file whether or not credit is granted. This recording will also be visible to third parties and may influence other organizations’ future decisions as to whether or not to with credit. For questions about the credit check process, please contact Klarna’s customer service team. Missed and late payments will be reported to credit bureaus and may affect your credit score.”
In the US, Xbox All access funding is provided by Citizens One, so you’ll need to open a Citizens One line of credit. Citizens One has no fees, but late payments can be reported to the credit bureaus. As with Klarna, a full credit check is performed before your credit line is approved.
More information can be found at Microsoft website (opens in new tab).
Xbox All Access: Available countries
Xbox All Access initially had a limited launch. Previously only available in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand, Microsoft has since rolled out the service to even more countries around the world.
Here are the countries and retailers that have Xbox All Access:
- Australia at Telstra
- Canada at EB Games
- Denmark at Elgiganten
- Finland at Gigantti
- France at FNAC
- New Zealand at Spark
- Norway at Elkjøp
- Poland at Media Expert
- Portugal at Carrots
- South Korea at SK Telecom
- Sweden at Elgiganten
- UK at GAME and Smyths Toys
- United States at Best Buy, GameStop, Target, Microsoft Store and Walmart
Xbox All Access games
Xbox All Access doesn’t explicitly come with games, but including 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in the bundle gives you access to loads of top Xbox titles.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gives you access to over 400 Xbox games through Game Pass, some of which are available to play on Android mobile devices, thanks to Xbox Cloud Gaming. Game Pass titles include the complete Gears of War, Forza and Halo series and much more.
Plus, you’ll have access to the biggest first-party Xbox titles as they launch, such as Hellblade 2. EA Play has been included in the subscription service since 2020 and gives players access to over 60 of EA’s top games, including FIFA 22, Need for Speed and The Sims; while Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda means Skyrim and Fallout have also joined the service.