The biggest upcoming change for most Game Pass subscribers is a monthly cap on cloud gaming, scheduled to begin in November 2026: Ultimate will include 15 hours, Premium 10 and Essential 5. Microsoft says extra hours will be sold separately, but has not announced their price or availability details. Separately, April’s U.S. price cuts lowered Ultimate and PC Game Pass prices, while future Call of Duty games are no longer promised on Game Pass at launch.
What changes in November 2026?
Xbox plans to introduce monthly cloud gaming allowances in November. The hours below are the included monthly allowance for each plan, as announced by Microsoft on September 3, 2026.
| Plan | Included cloud gaming |
|---|---|
| Ultimate | 15 hours per month |
| Premium | 10 hours per month |
| Essential | 5 hours per month |
After using the included time, subscribers will be able to purchase more through the Xbox Store. Microsoft has not yet announced the extra-hour price, purchase options, supported markets, eligible games, or how subscribers will check their remaining time. Those details matter if you regularly stream games: the allowance is not a promise that extra playtime will cost a particular amount or be available on identical terms everywhere. Xbox’s September 3 announcement says it expects the change to affect 4% of Game Pass subscribers. That is Microsoft’s estimate; the announcement does not give its methodology or independently verified usage data.
A separate pay-as-you-go cloud option
Microsoft also says that, beginning in November, people will be able to buy cloud playtime through the Xbox Store and stream eligible games they own on supported devices without a Game Pass subscription. Xbox says this could provide occasional cloud access and let Xbox One owners stream eligible Series X|S games. Pricing, game eligibility and regional availability are still to be announced, so this is a forthcoming option rather than a fully specified alternative today. Read Xbox’s announcement.
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- GAME PASS ULTIMATE: Play new games on day one, and enjoy hundreds of high-quality games on console, PC, and cloud. Game Pass Ultimate also includes online console multiplayer, EA Play, and other great member benefits.
- SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: From fast-paced action and adventure to timeless classics, family-friendly games, innovative indie titles, brain-teasing puzzles, immersive roleplaying adventures, and intense shooters. Dive into a world where every gamer can find their next favorite game.
- NEW GAMES ON DAY ONE: Enjoy incredible new games on day one from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, Activision Blizzard, and more. Play The Outer Worlds 2, NINJA GAIDEN 4, and High on Life 2 as soon as they are released.
- ONLINE CONSOLE MULTIPLAYER: Tap into the heart of the Xbox community and join millions of players ready to play together. Online console multiplayer is included with Game Pass Ultimate.
- EA PLAY MEMBERSHIP INCLUDED: Jump into Battlefield, STAR WARS, and other great game franchises with EA Play. Included at no extra cost, members get access to a collection of EA’s best-loved games, in-game rewards, and trials of select new games.
What changed in price, and what happened to Call of Duty?
On April 21, 2026, Microsoft announced U.S. monthly prices of $22.99 for Ultimate and $13.99 for PC Game Pass, down from $29.99 and $16.49 respectively. Microsoft cautioned that prices may vary by region, so the price shown in your account or at checkout is the one to use for your own budget. The announcement does not establish that every subscriber worldwide pays those U.S. amounts. Microsoft’s April announcement.
The same announcement changed the release timing for future Call of Duty games. They will not join Ultimate or PC Game Pass at launch; Microsoft expects to add them during the following holiday season, about a year after launch. Call of Duty games already in the catalog at the time of the announcement were to remain available, but that is not a guarantee that any catalog title will stay indefinitely. Subscription access lasts only while your subscription is active and the game remains in the catalog.
Rank #2
- DISCOVER 50+ GAMES — Explore a curated library of more than 50 games playable across XBOX consoles, PC, and supported devices, with new favorites ready to discover.
- PLAY ACROSS YOUR FAVORITE DEVICES — Enjoy included games across supported XBOX consoles, PC, and other compatible devices for more ways to play wherever you are.
- PLAY TOGETHER ONLINE — Connect with friends and communities with online console multiplayer included with XBOX Game Pass Essential.
- STREAM WITH XBOX CLOUD GAMING — Enjoy up to 5 hours of cloud playtime per month and stream supported games to compatible devices with XBOX Cloud Gaming.
- EARN REWARDS WHILE YOU PLAY — Earn Rewards points by playing games, completing eligible activities, and shopping in the Store with your XBOX Game Pass membership.
Which Game Pass plan fits how you play?
The current U.S. plan page describes four choices. Listed library counts and features are Microsoft’s current U.S. plan-page details; availability can differ by location and game, and Microsoft says offerings can change over time.
| Plan | What the U.S. plan page lists | Cloud allowance from November 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | 50+ games | 5 hours monthly |
| Premium | 200+ games; Xbox-published titles within one year of launch | 10 hours monthly |
| Ultimate | 500+ games; EA Play, Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics included | 15 hours monthly |
| PC Game Pass | 300+ PC games; day-one releases and EA Play | Not stated on the cited U.S. plan page |
The plan page warns that game availability varies by plan. Its descriptions should not be read as a guarantee that a particular game, feature or partner benefit is available to every subscriber in every region. Check Xbox’s current plan page for local details.
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- GAME PASS ULTIMATE: Play new games on day one, and enjoy hundreds of high-quality games on console, PC, and cloud. Game Pass Ultimate also includes online console multiplayer, EA Play, and other great member benefits.
- SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: From fast-paced action and adventure to timeless classics, family-friendly games, innovative indie titles, brain-teasing puzzles, immersive roleplaying adventures, and intense shooters. Dive into a world where every gamer can find their next favorite game.
- NEW GAMES ON DAY ONE: Enjoy incredible new games on day one from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, Activision Blizzard, and more. Play The Outer Worlds 2, NINJA GAIDEN 4, and High on Life 2 as soon as they are released.
- ONLINE CONSOLE MULTIPLAYER: Tap into the heart of the Xbox community and join millions of players ready to play together. Online console multiplayer is included with Game Pass Ultimate.
- EA PLAY MEMBERSHIP INCLUDED: Jump into Battlefield, STAR WARS, and other great game franchises with EA Play. Included at no extra cost, members get access to a collection of EA’s best-loved games, in-game rewards, and trials of select new games.
Make the decision around your actual use
- Cloud hours: Estimate how much you stream in a typical month. If your use is below the allowance for a lower-cost tier, Ultimate’s larger cloud allowance alone may not justify its local price. Extra-hour pricing is not yet known.
- Where you play: Compare console access, PC access or both against the devices you actually use. PC Game Pass is PC-only; the plan page describes other tiers’ game counts and benefits separately.
- Release timing and extras: Decide whether day-one releases, the later arrival of Xbox-published titles, or listed partner benefits matter to you. Future Call of Duty games are not day-one inclusions on Ultimate or PC Game Pass under the new timing promise.
- Your checkout price: Use the amount shown for your own region and account rather than assuming the U.S. price applies to you.
- The specific game you want: Check that title in the current catalog and for your plan before subscribing. Games rotate out; for example, Xbox’s September 1, 2026 update listed Cyberpunk 2077 as leaving September 15, 2026.
Xbox says access to library games requires an active subscription and lasts only while each game remains in the catalog. Titles, features and availability can vary by plan, platform, time and region. Xbox’s September 1 library update is one example of a title leaving the service.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do Meta Horizon+ or Discord Nitro include Game Pass?
They have announced partner benefits, but neither should be treated as a like-for-like substitute for a full Game Pass tier.
Rank #4
- DISCOVER 50+ GAMES — Explore a curated library of more than 50 games playable across XBOX consoles, PC, and supported devices, with new favorites ready to discover.
- PLAY ACROSS YOUR FAVORITE DEVICES — Enjoy included games across supported XBOX consoles, PC, and other compatible devices for more ways to play wherever you are.
- PLAY TOGETHER ONLINE — Connect with friends and communities with online console multiplayer included with XBOX Game Pass Essential.
- STREAM WITH XBOX CLOUD GAMING — Enjoy up to 5 hours of cloud playtime per month and stream supported games to compatible devices with XBOX Cloud Gaming.
- EARN REWARDS WHILE YOU PLAY — Earn Rewards points by playing games, completing eligible activities, and shopping in the Store with your XBOX Game Pass membership.
Meta Horizon+
Microsoft says eligible Meta Horizon+ subscribers in supported regions receive a Game Pass starter edition with 50+ games and 10 cloud hours per month. Xbox’s July 21 announcement listed Meta Horizon+ at $7.99 monthly or $59.99 annually in the U.S.; verify current price, eligibility and terms with Meta before subscribing. Xbox’s announcement.
Discord Nitro
Xbox Wire reported that Discord Nitro includes a Game Pass starter edition where available. The same May announcement said eligible Game Pass subscribers would receive Discord Orbs and Shop benefits, but it does not establish complete current eligibility terms. Check the offer details shown in your Discord account. Xbox Wire’s announcement.
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