Xbox All Access in Australia: is this the best way to get an Xbox Series X or S?
UPDATE: Microsoft has announced official Australian retail pricing for its upcoming Xbox Series S and Series X consoles, along with new subscription pricing for the consoles under Xbox All Access. Details below.
In August 2018 Microsoft announced the launch of Xbox All Access, a subscription service which allows those who sign up to get an Xbox One S or Xbox One X console, Xbox Games Pass and Xbox Live Gold for a flat per month fee – with no upfront costs. It took over a year to arrive, but Xbox All Access has officially landed in Australia via Telstra.
And, now that Microsoft is gearing up to launch its next-gen Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X consoles on November 10, it's officially been revealed that both will be available via the Xbox All Access Program from day one.
To see if the Xbox All Access offer is for you, we put together this handy guide explaining everything we know about Xbox All Access and assessing whether it's good value compared to just buying all those Xbox bits and bobs separately.
Xbox All Access: what is it?
At present, Xbox All Access is subscription service which sees you receive an Xbox One S or Xbox One X console, 24-months of Xbox Live Gold (required for online multiplayer) and 24-months of Xbox Games Pass (Microsoft's subscription service that grants access to over 100 games) in return for paying a fixed monthly fee for 24 months.
However, from November 10, customers will have the option of choosing either an Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console via Xbox All Access for just a few dollars more per month, allowing them to get a next-generation gameplay experience without having to pay the full cost up front.
Xbox All Access: what's the price in Australia?
In Australia, you can currently sign up Xbox All Access via Telstra on a 24-month plan, with pricing starting at AU$27 per month for an Xbox One S, up to AU$34 per month for an Xbox One X and bonus game. This includes console repayments and plan charges
Once the first 24 months are over and the console repayments are finished, the price will automatically adjust to AU$15.95 per month. Early termination charges do apply.
Xbox One S (Xbox All Access) | AU$27 p/m (24-month contract) – via Telstra)
Telstra is offering an Xbox One S console with Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass For just AU$27 per month*. That means you can play online with a selection of over 100 games to choose from.
*Min cost AU$648 when you stay connected for 24 months + plan charges. Price after first 24 months: AU$15.95 per month. Early termination charges apply.View Deal
Xbox One X (Xbox All Access) | AU$34 p/m (24-month contract) – via Telstra)
Need a console with a bit more grunt? Telstra is also offering the powerful Xbox One X console with Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass For just AU$34 per month*. You get all the same Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass benefits as the previous deal, along with a download code for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Deluxe Edition.
*Min cost AU$816 when you stay connected for 24 months + plan charges. Price after first 24 months: AU$15.95 per month. Early termination charges apply.View Deal
While those minimum cost prices may seem high in comparison to just buying the consoles outright, it's important to take into account that this fee also covers two years worth of both Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass.
One year of Xbox Live Gold is priced at AU$79.95, bring the two-year total to AU$159.90. Meanwhile, the monthly fee for Xbox Game Pass is AU$10.95. Over 24 months, this would come to AU$262.80.
If you were to buy the Xbox One S console separately at retail price, you'd be looking at around AU$399 for the console + AU$159.90 + AU$262.80, bringing the total to $821.70. Factor in the Xbox One X's retail price of AU$549, and you'd be looking at a total cost of AU$971.70.
Whether you opt for the Xbox One S or Xbox One X plan, you're saving money either way when you consider the value added by the included subscriptions over a 24-month period.
Xbox All Access: Xbox Series S and Series X
It's official: Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X will launch in Australia on November 10, 2020. At retail, the slim Xbox Series S will be priced at AU$499, while the more powerful Xbox Series X will set you back AU$749.
If those prices sounds a little rich for your blood, you're in luck: both consoles will be available from day one as part of the Xbox All Access program, meaning you can score your chosen console right away for a reasonable monthly fee as part of a 24-month contract.
It's been announced that the Xbox Series S will be available via Xbox All Access for just AU$33 a month for 24 months, while the top-tier Xbox Series X can be yours for only AU$46 a month for 24 months.
Along with your chosen console, you will also receive Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, giving you unlimited access to over a hundred high-quality games (including all the major Xbox first party titles) across PC and Xbox consoles, along with EA Play, providing a large library of EA titles, as well as the chance to play new games ahead of launch.
Can you upgrade to Xbox Series X or S?
If you're an existing Xbox All Access subscriber with an Xbox One console, there's a chance you may be able to upgrade to an Xbox Series S or Series X console when they new models arrive in November.
In the US, it's been announced that Microsoft will wave the stipulation that says you have to pay a termination fee if you end your current contract early – so long as you're upgrading to one of the new consoles. However, US subscribers will have to start their 24-month contract over again from the beginning when they upgrade to an Xbox Series S or Series X.
As for Australia, details around upgrading have yet to be confirmed, so it's unclear whether the same offer will apply here – we've reached out to Microsoft, and will update this story if further clarification is forthcoming.
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 to pay for both memberships each month you are connected
Xbox All Access is subject to the Microsoft Store standard return policy. This means your chosen console has a 30-day return policy. However both memberships are not returnable and are non-refundable.
It's yours to keep after the 2 years
Signing up for Xbox All Access means you own the console and the 24 month Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold memberships outright upon purchase.
Early termination during the initial 24-month period will result in additional charges
According to Telstra's terms and conditions, cancelling your Xbox All Access subscription after the first 30 days will result in termination charges, much like with a mobile phone plan.
For the Xbox One S, this means paying AU$409.37 (1 month + AU$382.37 remaining on your console) with the overall payout reducing by AU$16.625 each month that you stay connected.
For the Xbox One X, early termination means paying AU$659.95 (1 month + AU$621.95 remaining on your console) with the overall payout reduced by AU$27.042 each month you stay connected.
More information is available at Telstra's website.
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