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Update, April–August 2026: Microsoft temporarily protected some existing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers from its October 2025 price increase, but that protection was limited to certain markets and depended on continuous auto-renewal. New purchases and canceled-and-rejoined subscriptions were charged the current price. The United States and United Kingdom were not included.
The story also changed later: on April 21, 2026, Xbox announced that U.S. Game Pass Ultimate pricing would fall from the reported 2025 price of $29.99 to $22.99 per month. As of August 18, 2026, subscribers should check their Microsoft account for their own renewal price rather than rely on the old $29.99 figure.
What Microsoft delayed
Microsoft did not cancel the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price increase worldwide. Instead, it temporarily allowed some existing subscribers in selected markets to keep renewing at their previous price.
The protection applied to subscribers whose plans remained active and automatically renewing. Microsoft described the arrangement as applying “for now,” not as permanent grandfathering. The company also said affected customers would receive advance notice before a future price adjustment. A reported customer email cited at least 60 days’ notice, although notice treatment may vary by market and account.
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New purchases in those markets still used the higher price. A subscriber who canceled and later bought Game Pass Ultimate again was also charged the then-current rate.
| Subscription situation | Reported treatment in affected markets |
|---|---|
| Existing subscriber with auto-renewal active | Continued renewing at the old rate temporarily |
| New subscriber | Charged the new price |
| Existing subscriber who canceled and rejoined | Charged the current price after re-subscribing |
| Subscription that lapsed or was repurchased | Could lose the temporary protection and be charged the current rate |
| Subscriber in the United States or United Kingdom | Not included in the reported temporary freeze |
Microsoft’s reported explanation was that the treatment was being handled “in line with local requirements.” Reports interpreted that wording as likely relating to regional subscription-change and consumer-notice rules, but Microsoft did not publicly identify a specific regulator or legal order in the cited statements. (WinBuzzer; Dataconomy)
Which countries were affected?
Contemporary reports identified subscribers in countries including Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Poland, India, Austria, Israel and other markets. This is a representative list, not a confirmed worldwide list. Microsoft referred to “certain countries,” and eligibility could depend on the billing market and how the subscription was purchased.
Country-wide reporting cannot guarantee how an individual account will be billed. Direct Microsoft subscriptions, retailer-issued codes, prepaid time and third-party billing arrangements may follow different rules.
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What “auto-recurring plan” meant
The temporary rate was tied to continuity. Customers generally needed to remain subscribed with recurring billing enabled. Turning off recurring billing could affect eligibility when the current paid period ended, while canceling and starting again was explicitly not treated as the same thing as remaining subscribed.
Readers should also avoid assuming that a failed payment, expired card or account lapse will preserve the old rate. The available reporting does not establish identical treatment for every payment failure, so the safest approach is to check the account after any billing interruption.
How much was the original increase?
The October 2025 increase was reported as roughly 50% in some markets. Contemporary examples included the U.S. price rising to about $29.99 per month and some European pricing rising from €17.99 to €26.99. Those were 2025 figures, not the current U.S. price.
Why the U.S. and U.K. were different
The United States and United Kingdom were excluded from the reported temporary protection. Existing subscribers in those markets were therefore subject to the announced increase under the October 2025 reporting. The change was not a worldwide rollback, and it did not mean every European or Asian subscriber received the same treatment. (Contemporary coverage)
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That historical distinction matters less for U.S. subscribers today because Xbox subsequently changed its prices again.
What happened afterward?
October 1, 2025: Reported start date for new-purchase pricing under Microsoft’s announced changes.
October 7–8, 2025: Reports and Microsoft confirmation described the temporary protection for existing auto-renewing subscribers in certain markets.
November 2025: Many existing subscribers were expected to encounter their first affected renewal under the original schedule, depending on their billing date.
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April 21, 2026: Xbox announced that U.S. Game Pass Ultimate would fall from $29.99 to $22.99 per month. U.S. PC Game Pass would fall from $16.49 to $13.99 per month. Xbox said regional prices could vary.
August 18, 2026: The current U.S. Xbox purchase page listed Ultimate at $22.99 per month, making the old $29.99 figure historical rather than current. (Xbox Wire; Xbox store)
The April 2026 announcement also changed the value calculation for some players: future Call of Duty games would no longer launch in Ultimate or PC Game Pass. Xbox said new Call of Duty titles would instead arrive around the following holiday season, roughly a year later, while existing Call of Duty games already in the library would remain available.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if you are an affected subscriber
- Confirm your Microsoft account’s country or billing market.
- Check whether recurring billing is enabled.
- Review the next billing date and the renewal price shown on the account.
- Avoid canceling and rejoining merely to troubleshoot the subscription.
- Save any Microsoft email or account notice showing your current rate.
- Review the account again if Microsoft sends a future price-change notice.
Recurring billing can be managed through the Microsoft account subscription page or an Xbox console. Labels and available options can vary by account and platform. The Xbox subscription material also describes a limited refund possibility for certain unintended recurring-billing charges when the customer cancels within 30 days; it is not a general refund right for every Game Pass purchase. (Xbox Game Pass deals and discounts)
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Should you cancel?
Canceling can remove a temporary legacy-rate benefit. If you later re-subscribe, Microsoft may charge the current listed price rather than restore the old renewal rate. You may also lose access to the Game Pass catalog when the paid period ends.
Before canceling, compare the cost of staying subscribed with how often you use day-one releases, cloud gaming, online console multiplayer, EA Play and included benefits. A promotional price should not be treated as the normal renewal price, and switching plans may be preferable to leaving entirely.
Current U.S. plan alternatives
Microsoft’s U.S. listings checked around August 18, 2026 showed these monthly prices:
| Plan | U.S. price | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $9.99 | Players seeking a lower-cost console membership with online multiplayer, cloud access, in-game benefits and a smaller catalog. |
| Premium | $14.99 | Console players who want a larger catalog and cloud gaming but do not need the highest tier’s full benefits. |
| PC Game Pass | $13.99 | PC players who value day-one PC releases and EA Play without needing console multiplayer. |
| Ultimate | $22.99 | Players who want the broadest catalog, selected day-one releases, cloud play, console multiplayer, EA Play and additional benefits. |
The current U.S. purchase page describes Essential as including more than 50 games, Premium as including more than 200, PC Game Pass as including more than 300 PC games and Ultimate as including more than 500 games. Catalog sizes, features, prices and availability can change by region, platform and time, so use the official Game Pass comparison page for your market.
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Is the October 2025 news still actionable?
Yes, but mainly for subscribers in markets that received the temporary protection. The important lesson is that continuous auto-renewal could preserve a favorable rate temporarily, while canceling and rejoining could result in the current price. The arrangement was conditional, not permanent.
For U.S. subscribers, the actionable figure as of August 18, 2026 was the current $22.99 monthly Ultimate price, not the historical $29.99 price. For subscribers elsewhere, Microsoft’s live account display remains more reliable than a general country list: check the plan, renewal setting, next billing date and displayed charge before changing anything.
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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.
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