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No new Xbox Game Pass price increase is currently coming, based on the latest researched Microsoft announcements. Microsoft raised Game Pass prices during its October 1, 2025 restructuring, then cut Ultimate and PC Game Pass prices in April 2026. The August 2026 Xbox price increase concerned consoles, not the subscription service.
No new Xbox Game Pass price increase is currently coming, based on the latest researched Microsoft announcements. The confusing headline refers to two different events: Microsoft raised Game Pass prices and reorganized its plans on October 1, 2025, then cut the U.S. prices of Ultimate and PC Game Pass on April 21, 2026. Separately, Microsoft raised the prices of Xbox consoles beginning August 1, 2026. That hardware increase was not a Game Pass subscription increase.
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The latest Xbox Game Pass pricing update
On April 21, 2026, Microsoft announced that it was reducing two Game Pass prices in the United States:
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- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: reduced from $29.99 to $22.99 per month.
- PC Game Pass: reduced from $16.49 to $13.99 per month.
A July 2026 pricing overview lists the current U.S. plans as Essential at $10 per month, Premium at $15, PC Game Pass at $14, and Ultimate at $23. The small difference between the official prices and the rounded figures in the overview reflects how prices are displayed. Your actual checkout total can also vary by region, tax, account, promotion, and billing arrangement, so check the Microsoft checkout page before subscribing or renewing.
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Ultimate continues to include hundreds of games on Xbox console and PC, in-game benefits, online console multiplayer, unlimited Xbox Cloud Gaming, and major day-one releases. However, Microsoft changed the treatment of future Call of Duty games: new entries will no longer launch into Ultimate or PC Game Pass. Instead, they are expected to arrive around the following holiday season, approximately one year after release. Read Microsoft’s April 2026 Xbox Game Pass update for the official pricing and benefit details.
What happened to the October 2025 price increase?
Microsoft’s October 1, 2025 restructuring created the Essential, Premium, and Ultimate plan names and raised the U.S. Ultimate price to $29.99 per month. The change applied immediately to new subscribers, while existing subscribers were affected later according to their billing arrangements. Contemporary coverage of the announcement is available from GameSpot’s October 2025 report.
That increase is therefore real, but it is no longer the latest Ultimate price. Microsoft subsequently reduced Ultimate to $22.99 per month in April 2026. An article saying that a $29.99 Game Pass Ultimate increase is “coming” without identifying October 2025 as the historical event would give readers an outdated impression.
Current U.S. Game Pass plan context
| Plan | Monthly U.S. price reported in July 2026 | Important context |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $10 | Entry-level conventional tier listed in the current plan overview. |
| Premium | $15 | Mid-level conventional tier listed in the current plan overview. |
| PC Game Pass | $13.99, commonly shown as $14 | Microsoft reduced it from $16.49 in April 2026. |
| Ultimate | $22.99, commonly shown as $23 | Microsoft reduced it from $29.99 in April 2026. |
These are U.S. monthly reference prices, not a guarantee of the price shown on every account. Regional pricing, taxes, promotions, prepaid offers, and subscription status can change the amount. Starter Edition is described as being available through partner memberships such as Discord Nitro and Meta Horizon+, rather than as a conventional standalone Game Pass tier. Eligibility and availability may depend on country and partner terms.
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Why readers are seeing reports about a “price increase”
The likely source of the confusion is Microsoft’s separate June 25, 2026 announcement about Xbox console pricing. The new hardware prices took effect on August 1, 2026:
- Xbox console models with 512GB storage increased by $100.
- 1TB models increased by $150.
- The 2TB model was sunset.
Microsoft attributed the hardware change to higher component costs, saying storage-component costs had risen more than 2.5 times and that another increase was expected by fall 2027. Those comments concern the cost of manufacturing consoles; they are not evidence of another Game Pass subscription increase. The official details are in Microsoft’s June 2026 Xbox console price update.
Does buying an Xbox console make Game Pass more expensive?
No. The price of the console and the price of a Game Pass membership are separate. A person buying an Xbox after August 1 pays the revised hardware price, but that does not automatically change the monthly Game Pass charge. Conversely, the April Game Pass reduction did not reduce the price of Xbox hardware.
This distinction matters when comparing the cost of joining the Xbox ecosystem. A buyer may face a higher one-time console cost while still paying the current subscription price for the selected Game Pass plan. Use the plan price shown on the account’s checkout page and the console price shown by the retailer rather than combining figures from older reports.
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What should existing subscribers do?
- Check your next billing amount. Open your Microsoft account’s Services & subscriptions area and inspect the Game Pass renewal price, billing date, and plan name.
- Compare your plan with your usage. Ultimate may be worthwhile for subscribers using console multiplayer, PC access, cloud gaming, in-game benefits, and its broad catalog. PC-only players should compare PC Game Pass against the current Ultimate price.
- Check Call of Duty expectations. Do not assume that a future new Call of Duty release will be available on day one through Ultimate or PC Game Pass. Microsoft’s April policy says new games will arrive around the following holiday season instead.
- Verify regional terms before changing plans. A price shown in a U.S. report may not apply to another country, and changing or canceling a subscription can affect grandfathered billing terms or promotions.
Bottom line: is a Game Pass price increase coming?
There is no newer official Game Pass price-increase announcement in the researched Xbox materials as of August 12, 2026. The accurate current summary is:
- Game Pass prices increased during Microsoft’s October 2025 restructuring.
- Ultimate and PC Game Pass prices were reduced in April 2026.
- Xbox console prices increased on August 1, 2026.
- The console increase should not be described as a Game Pass price hike.
Prices can still vary by market, account, tax, and promotion. For a current subscription decision, treat Microsoft’s checkout page as the final authority.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Is Xbox Game Pass getting another price increase?
No. Microsoft increased Game Pass prices on October 1, 2025, but its latest researched Game Pass announcement reduced Ultimate from $29.99 to $22.99 per month and PC Game Pass from $16.49 to $13.99 per month in the U.S. on April 21, 2026. The August 1, 2026 increase was for Xbox consoles.
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The July 2026 U.S. overview lists Essential at $10 per month, Premium at $15, PC Game Pass at $13.99 (often rounded to $14), and Ultimate at $22.99 (often rounded to $23). Regional pricing, taxes, promotions, and account-specific offers can differ.
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Will new Call of Duty games launch on Game Pass?
Microsoft said new Call of Duty games would no longer launch into Ultimate or PC Game Pass. They are expected to arrive around the following holiday season, approximately one year after release.
Did Xbox console prices and Game Pass prices increase together?
No. Microsoft announced separate Xbox console price increases effective August 1, 2026. That hardware pricing change does not automatically change the monthly price of a Game Pass subscription.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: The $29.99 Xbox Game Pass Ultimate increase was a real October 2025 event, but Microsoft later cut Ultimate to $22.99 and PC Game Pass to $13.99 in April 2026. The August 1, 2026 price increase affected Xbox consoles, not Game Pass subscriptions.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
