Fortnite gamers, a warning. Groundbreaking news for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is that Fortnite Crew subscription will be included in the package. Reactions are very mixed; however, it is all the way from the ones who wake up still hating the very thought of the game. The official Xbox Game Pass account teased what seems to be an image and a link actually confirming Fortnite Crew as part of the Game Pass Ultimate package when they tweeted: “Skimming through. Here’s the deal, Fortnite fans.”
The game Fortnite has had its ups and downs in the gaming world, but it is still one of the hottest games. It is more so loved by kids and casual gamers than hardcore gamers. The Fortnite Crew subscription is Epic Games’ monthly subscription for Fortnite that costs around $11.99 each month. Players who are subscribed will be enjoying it at no extra charge as part of the Game Pass Ultimate package if they opt for the top-tier membership. The features of the subscription include the Battle Pass, a thousand V-Bucks for that month, and a new limited edition costume.
Still, let’s not deceive ourselves, the replies to that tweet are a whole mood. A lot of players seem to be very angry about this. One user, @_TechDifferent_, said very clearly, “I wouldn’t like to pay extra for a bad game like this. Bye, Game Pass!” Ouch! Another user, @SRFrosty77, was just as blunt in saying, “Do you think anyone here wanted it? My answer is no.” A segment of the player base seems to be of the opinion that this integration has been the reason behind the recent hike in Game Pass prices and that they are not shy about saying it. One user, @s_kennedy31, labeled it the “main cause for the price hike,” and another one, @Guile_The_Exile, went all caps shouting that “NOBODY ASKED FOR THIS.”
Nonetheless, there are those who have a different opinion, the ones that like it. One user, @xboxbrand101, simply said, “It is well worth it,” which is a rather optimistic view. Another user, @Bigsteelguy2, posted a very long and thoughtful reply expressing the reasons why the value is there for him since he plays a lot of Fortnite and also enjoys Ubisoft games. He did mention that it would be a nice idea to have one tier in between Ultimate and Premium for those who do not want all the extras, which is a valid point. So, it is not all negative voices, but the critics are definitely louder.
Oh wait, what was the topic again? Yes, the uncertainty. A very important technical issue arises in the replies that no one seems to have an exact answer for. Players like @killer_sneak and @Bigsteelguy2 are asking what happens to your already existing Fortnite Crew subscription. If you already have one, will you be charged twice? Do you need to cancel your previous one? How does it become one? @killer_sneak was very frustrated and begging, “Asking for weeks, still no answer!” and by the look of the replies it, seems like accounts are not merging automatically which is a set up for the frustration and double charges. One user suggested contacting Epic support, but that is not a pleasant process at all.
On the other hand, there are people that just… haven’t received it yet. Users like @CorpseDecayN and @TheSynburnsRed are saying that they are “still waiting” or that it’s “still not working.” Meanwhile, @EP1CT0PHERGG has already claimed he got it yesterday, which means the roll-out is clearly happening but not consistently for everyone. This is always the case with these digital launches, some people get it instantly and others have to keep refreshing their screens.
Moreover, it is somehow funny to see the requests for other things. A few comments from @cerberus144 and @HidesCriesDies are asking for Fallout 1st (the subscription for Fallout 76) instead of Fortnite Crew. The way it goes is such, “Can I get Fallout First instead? I don’t play Fortnight.” It just shows that for Fortnite users this is a great addition, for everyone else it can be like a forced package that they are paying for without using it.
So, what is the conclusion? Xbox is on an obvious mission to increase the value of its Game Pass Ultimate tier making it the only place for all gaming subscriptions. The user will have EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, and now Fortnite Crew. For the player who tries out all of that, it’s probably going to be a great deal. But for the dedicated gamer who just wants the core Game Pass library, this is like extra content along with a reason for a higher monthly fee.
