Update []: Microsoft has shared a statement with Kotaku on this, which reads as follows:
"This is not specific to any one game and reflects all games and DLC purchases. Instead of a discount on the purchases, Ultimate and Premium subscribers will earn 10% and 5% – respectively – in points when purchasing select games and add-ons from the Game Pass library. Ultimate members continue to have 20% discount on select games from the Game Pass library. On top of that, all Rewards members will earn points when shopping games and add-ons on the Store, while Premium and Ultimate subscribers will earn even more, 2x and 4x respectively. See more detail on the Game Pass Rewards program here."
Original Story: So, earlier today we spotted some news doing the rounds about Call of Duty DLC no longer being discounted for Xbox Game Pass members - and after doing a little digging, this appears to be part of the broader Game Pass shift from Microsoft.
Basically, the majority of individual DLC packs for Game Pass games are no longer 10% off for subscribers (except for EA Play games where the 10% reduction still applies). We are seeing certain bundles with 10% off still — such as the Premium Upgrades for South of Midnight and Indiana Jones — but most DLC for Game Pass titles is now showing up at full price, such as the individual Order of Giants expansion for Indy. It's worth noting that the full game discount of 20% for XGP Ultimate titles is still up and running in most instances.
Here's how that Indiana Jones content is looking:
This is a bit of a bummer to be honest; we can't say we took advantage of these discounts too often, but it was always nice to have some sort of Game Pass perk for DLC - considering that content is always an additional purchase. It appears that this shift is to do with the new Game Pass overhaul, which has now moved this bonus to Xbox Rewards instead.
Yep, instead of getting 10% off Xbox Game Pass-related DLC, members will now earn that 10% back in rewards points - going off a new description of the recent service revamp. Here's where we're seeing that change explained by Microsoft:
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: "With our upgraded Rewards program, players can get up to 30% value on select Game Pass games, with 4x points on purchases of games and add-ons, 10% back in points on select Game Pass library titles and add-ons, and up to 20% off select Game Pass games."
It's a little vague, but we're going to assume (based on us spotting these broad 10% discount removals) that this perk has been moved over to "10% back in points on select Game Pass library titles and add-ons". This is definitely a downgrade on just getting the 10% off straight up - but there we have it, this seems to be Microsoft's new way of offering some sort of 10% offer on Xbox Game Pass DLC.