Xbox All Access payment plans let you upgrade to Project Scarlett

$30.99/mo for 24 months for an Xbox One X

Microsoft’s Xbox All Access monthly payment plan is coming back for not only Xbox One consoles, but the next-gen Project Scarlett, too. If you’re into the idea of Game Pass, it’s worth considering.

In essence, Xbox All Access is a way to pick up a new console – either an Xbox One X, an Xbox One S, or an Xbox One S All-Digital Edition – along with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (which includes Xbox Live Gold) for a monthly fee, at 0% APR. There’s also an option to upgrade to Scarlett, albeit with some caveats.

The payment plans vary depending on the console in question and where you live. In the United States, Xbox All Access will be handled through Amazon starting November 18, 2019; in the UK, it’s GAME in-store and Smyths Toys online; and in Australia, it’s Telstra. Here’s the pricing breakdown:

• Xbox One S All-Digital Edition: $19.99/mo for 24 months. 0% APR. No upfront cost.

• Xbox One S: $22.99/mo for 24 months. 0% APR. No upfront cost.

• Xbox One X: $30.99/mo for 24 months. 0% APR. No upfront cost.

All three of these consoles come with 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate access. For reference, when there aren’t any promotions running, the subscription service normally runs $14.99 a month.

The crucial bit: You can’t pay for an Xbox All Access plan with a credit card – instead, monthly payments are done through a Citizens One line of credit. “There are no application fees, no annual fees, no late fees, nor early repayment fees for your Citizens One Line of Credit for Xbox All Access,” according to Microsoft. “However, late payments may be reported to the credit bureaus.”

As for the next-gen console upgrade, we don’t know how much Project Scarlett will retail for when it launches in holiday 2020, or all that many details in general, but here’s the gist for Xbox All Access:

• After making the equivalent of 18 payments, check your upgrade eligibility with Citizens One. Special promotions, such as the holiday upgrade offer on Xbox One X, may allow for earlier upgrades.

• Once you’ve confirmed that you’re eligible to upgrade, you may purchase the next Xbox console with a new Xbox All Access purchase from the same retailer where you made the original Xbox All Access purchase.
  

• You will need to trade-in all products included in your original Xbox All Access purchase, including the Xbox One console, controller, and power cord when upgrading. Products must be in good condition in order to be eligible for trade-in and upgrade. If upgrading online, you’ll receive a special kit in the mail allowing you to trade-in these products within 15 days of upgrading. If upgrading in-store, bring these items with you at time of upgrade.

• Upgrading from Xbox One S All-Digital Edition will require payment of a $20 upgrade fee.

These things always come with a lot of fine print. Here’s the rundown on that holiday upgrade offer: “Upgrading to Project Scarlett is subject to its release and availability at the time you upgrade. Upgrade requires at least 12 payments on your original Xbox All Access contract, and purchase of a new 24-month Xbox All Access contract for Project Scarlett, expected Holiday 2020. Offer valid for original purchase of Xbox One X with Xbox All Access through Dec. 31, 2019; not available with Xbox One S.”

On the surface, this plan could be pretty tempting depending on your financial situation. Hopefully Microsoft doesn’t wait too much longer to reveal more info about Project Scarlett, including its MSRP. That said, the upgrade offer is a smart move on their part to ease more people into next-gen.

Xbox All Access [Xbox]