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Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass overhaul began with a price increase on October 1, 2025, but the figures changed again later. In the United States, Game Pass Essential now costs $9.99 per month, Premium costs $14.99, PC Game Pass costs $13.99, and Ultimate costs $22.99. The October 2025 Ultimate price of $29.99 is no longer current.
The biggest ongoing caveat is that Microsoft no longer promises future Call of Duty releases on day one through Ultimate or PC Game Pass. Prices, taxes, promotions, game libraries and availability vary by country, platform and account.
Xbox Game Pass prices at a glance
| Plan | U.S. monthly price | Best for | Main benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Pass Essential | $9.99 | Console multiplayer and a smaller catalog | 50-plus games, online console multiplayer, cloud gaming for supported content, in-game benefits and discounts |
| Game Pass Premium | $14.99 | Console players who want a larger catalog | 200-plus games, cloud gaming, online multiplayer and selected new games within one year |
| PC Game Pass | $13.99 | Windows PC players | 300-plus PC games, select day-one releases and EA Play |
| Game Pass Ultimate | $22.99 | Players using multiple platforms and bundled services | 500-plus games, select day-one releases, cloud gaming, multiplayer, EA Play, Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics |
These are Microsoft’s listed U.S. monthly prices as of August 18, 2026. They are regular prices, not necessarily introductory offers, and taxes may be added. See the official Xbox plan listing for the price and availability shown for your account.
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Microsoft reorganized the main Game Pass lineup around different ways to play:
#1 Best Overall
- GAME PASS ULTIMATE: Get the full Game Pass experience with 500+ games across your devices. Includes Fortnite Crew, EA Play, and Ubisoft+ Classics, plus our highest-quality cloud streaming and member perks.
- NEW GAMES ON DAY ONE: Enjoy new games on day one from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, Activision Blizzard, and more. Play Forza Horizon 6, High on Life 2, and Halo: Campaign Evolved the same day they launch.
- PLAY ACROSS DEVICES: Download games on Xbox console, PC, and supported handhelds. Skip the download and stream games on any supported device, including mobile, tablet, TV, and VR headset.
- CLOUD GAMING: Stream games at our best quality with the shortest wait times, including select games you own.
- FORTNITE CREW INCLUDED: Get access to the current Battle Pass, OG Pass, LEGO Pass, Music Pass, and Rocket Pass Premium. In addition, get 1,000 V-Bucks each month.
- Game Pass Core became Game Pass Essential.
- Game Pass Standard became Game Pass Premium.
- Game Pass Ultimate remained Ultimate, but its price rose substantially and additional benefits were bundled in.
- PC Game Pass increased from $11.99 to $16.49 per month in the United States at the time.
Essential retained the basic role previously associated with Core: affordable console multiplayer with a smaller catalog. Premium became the broader console-oriented option for players who wanted more games and cloud access without paying for every day-one release. PC Game Pass continued to target Windows users, while Ultimate combined the widest range of platforms, catalog access and partner benefits.
The October change followed Microsoft’s introduction of Game Pass Standard in September 2024. Standard had offered console multiplayer and a catalog of more than 25 games, but it did not include new releases on day one. The later Essential and Premium naming system replaced that structure. Microsoft’s earlier announcement is available on the Xbox Wire website.
What changed again on April 21, 2026?
Microsoft subsequently revised the U.S. pricing rather than leaving the October increase in place:
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- Game Pass Ultimate fell from $29.99 to $22.99 per month.
- PC Game Pass fell from $16.49 to $13.99 per month.
- Future Call of Duty games were removed from the day-one promise for Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Microsoft said future Call of Duty releases would instead be added around the following holiday season. Existing Call of Duty games already available in the catalog remained subject to the applicable Game Pass terms. The policy change is detailed in Microsoft’s April 21, 2026 Xbox Game Pass update.
Game Pass Essential: the lowest-cost paid tier
Essential costs $9.99 per month in the U.S. and is the closest current equivalent to the old Core tier. It includes:
- A catalog of 50-plus games.
- Online console multiplayer.
- Cloud gaming for supported games and devices.
- In-game benefits.
- Rewards-earning opportunities.
- Discounts on selected games and add-ons.
Essential is the sensible choice if you mainly need multiplayer access and occasionally use the included catalog. It is also suitable for players who usually buy major releases separately.
Rank #2
- GAME PASS ESSENTIAL: Enjoy a curated library of 50+ games and essential Xbox features in one subscription.
- PLAY LEGENDARY FRANCHISES: Enjoy fan favorites like Fallout 76, Hades, Stardew Valley, and more on any screen.
- PLAY ACROSS DEVICES: Download games on Xbox console, PC, and supported handhelds. Skip the download and stream games on any supported device, including mobile, tablet, TV, and VR headset.
- CLOUD GAMING: Stream games, including select games you already own.
- EARN REWARDS POINTS: Play and earn up to $25 a year in Microsoft Rewards. Earn Microsoft Rewards points on eligible purchases and gameplay.
It is not the tier to choose for day-one access to Microsoft releases. Cloud access also needs careful interpretation: some games can be streamed because they are included, while other supported games may require you to own them separately. Platform, region, device and catalog restrictions apply.
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Premium costs $14.99 per month and includes more than 200 games, online console multiplayer and unlimited cloud gaming. It also offers selected new games within one year of release, along with in-game benefits and enhanced Rewards earning compared with Essential.
Premium is aimed at console players who want a much larger catalog but can wait for some new releases. It should not be described as providing every Xbox first-party game on day one. Microsoft’s current positioning is “selected new games within one year,” not universal launch-day access.
For many console users, Premium is the clearest alternative to Ultimate: it costs $8 less per month and retains the broad catalog and cloud features, but drops Ultimate’s day-one focus and bundled services such as EA Play, Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics.
PC Game Pass: for Windows players
PC Game Pass costs $13.99 per month in the U.S. It includes:
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- Day-one access to select eligible releases.
- EA Play.
- In-game benefits.
- Enhanced Rewards earning.
PC Game Pass requires Windows 10 or Windows 11 version 22H2 or higher, according to Xbox’s PC Game Pass requirements. It is generally the better fit for someone who plays primarily or exclusively on Windows and does not need console multiplayer, console access or Ultimate’s broader bundle.
Rank #3
- GAME PASS ULTIMATE: Get the full Game Pass experience with 500+ games across your devices. Includes Fortnite Crew, EA Play, and Ubisoft+ Classics, plus our highest-quality cloud streaming and member perks.
- NEW GAMES ON DAY ONE: Enjoy new games on day one from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, Activision Blizzard, and more. Play Forza Horizon 6, High on Life 2, and Halo: Campaign Evolved the same day they launch.
- PLAY ACROSS DEVICES: Download games on Xbox console, PC, and supported handhelds. Skip the download and stream games on any supported device, including mobile, tablet, TV, and VR headset.
- CLOUD GAMING: Stream games at our best quality with the shortest wait times, including select games you own.
- FORTNITE CREW INCLUDED: Get access to the current Battle Pass, OG Pass, LEGO Pass, Music Pass, and Rocket Pass Premium. In addition, get 1,000 V-Bucks each month.
“Day one” applies only to eligible games. It does not mean every new PC release is included, and future Call of Duty games are specifically excluded from the current day-one promise.
Game Pass Ultimate: the broadest bundle
Ultimate costs $22.99 per month and includes more than 500 games across supported console, PC and handheld experiences. Its benefits include:
- Select major day-one releases, excluding future Call of Duty titles under Microsoft’s current policy.
- Unlimited cloud gaming.
- Online console multiplayer.
- EA Play.
- Fortnite Crew.
- Ubisoft+ Classics.
- In-game benefits, discounts and higher Rewards earning.
Ultimate makes the most sense when you actively use several of those features. A player who moves between Xbox, PC, handheld devices and cloud gaming can get considerably more from it than someone who plays only on one console.
It is a weaker choice for someone subscribing mainly for future Call of Duty launches. Those games are no longer covered by the day-one promise, so that expectation should not be used to justify the $22.99 monthly price.
Which Game Pass plan should you choose?
Choose Essential if you mainly need multiplayer
Pick Essential when online console multiplayer is the priority, you are comfortable with a 50-plus-game catalog, and you normally purchase major releases individually. It is the lowest-priced paid Game Pass option.
Choose Premium if you want a large console catalog
Premium is the better middle ground if you want more than Essential offers, use cloud gaming, and can wait for selected new releases to arrive within a year. It is not suitable for players who require every eligible launch-day game.
Rank #4
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- THE PERFECT GAMING GIFT — Buy an XBOX Gift Card for yourself or a friend and let them choose the games, add‑ons, subscriptions, and accessories they want most.
- USE FOR GAMES & CONTENT — Redeem for thousands of digital XBOX games, from backward compatible classics to the latest new releases, plus DLC and in‑game currency.
- GAME PASS READY — Apply your balance toward XBOX Game Pass Ultimate to play new titles on day one* and access a library of hundreds of high‑quality console games.
- PRE‑ORDER & PRE‑INSTALL GAMES — Use your balance to pre‑order and pre‑download upcoming titles so you’re ready to play the moment they launch.
- NO FEES OR EXPIRATION — XBOX Gift Cards never expire and have no service fees, so your balance is ready whenever you are.
Choose PC Game Pass if you play on Windows
PC Game Pass is the specialist option for Windows players who value a large PC catalog, EA Play and eligible day-one releases. It is unnecessary to pay for Ultimate if you do not need console access, cloud gaming or its additional bundled services.
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Ultimate is justified when you regularly use multiple platforms, cloud gaming, EA Play, Fortnite Crew, Ubisoft+ Classics and eligible day-one releases. If most of those benefits go unused, Premium or PC Game Pass may provide better value.
Consider buying games individually
A subscription is not automatically cheaper. Buying games separately may be better if you finish only one or two games each year, do not need multiplayer or cloud gaming, or want permanent ownership rather than access that ends when the subscription ends.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Historical price comparison
| Plan | Before October 2025 | October 2025 price | Current U.S. price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential / former Core | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 |
| Premium / former Standard | $14.99 or equivalent Standard pricing | $14.99 | $14.99 |
| PC Game Pass | $11.99 | $16.49 | $13.99 |
| Ultimate | $19.99 | $29.99 | $22.99 |
This table shows U.S. list prices and is intended to explain the sequence of changes, not to represent prices in every market. The headline “Xbox Game Pass price increase” refers primarily to the October 2025 change; it should not be used to suggest that Ultimate still costs $29.99.
Existing subscribers: check your account, not an old headline
Existing subscribers may see different timing depending on whether they use recurring billing, a prepaid balance or a promotional offer. New purchases and renewals may also have different effective dates. A prepaid subscription can remain active at its earlier terms until the prepaid period ends.
To verify what you will actually pay, open your Microsoft account’s subscription management page and check:
Best Value
- GAME PASS ESSENTIAL: Enjoy a curated library of 50+ games and essential Xbox features in one subscription.
- PLAY LEGENDARY FRANCHISES: Enjoy fan favorites like Fallout 76, Hades, Stardew Valley, and more on any screen.
- PLAY ACROSS DEVICES: Download games on Xbox console, PC, and supported handhelds. Skip the download and stream games on any supported device, including mobile, tablet, TV, and VR headset.
- CLOUD GAMING: Stream games, including select games you already own.
- EARN REWARDS POINTS: Play and earn up to $25 a year in Microsoft Rewards. Earn Microsoft Rewards points on eligible purchases and gameplay.
- Your current plan name.
- The next billing date.
- The renewal price.
- Whether recurring billing is enabled.
- Whether an introductory promotion will expire before the next renewal.
Promotional prices are not the standard recurring price. Offers may be limited to selected accounts or periods, and taxes may be added. Microsoft says subscribers are notified before applicable price changes.
Important Game Pass fine print
Catalog numbers are not permanent
The figures “50-plus,” “200-plus,” “300-plus” and “500-plus” are marketing ranges, not fixed libraries. Games can leave or enter the catalog, and availability can differ by country, plan, platform, licensing period and device. Check the current Game Pass catalog for a specific title.
Cloud gaming does not mean every game is included
There is a difference between a game included in your plan and a game that Xbox allows you to stream after purchase. A title may also be unavailable on a particular device or in a particular region. Essential’s cloud offering is especially important to check on a game-by-game basis.
Day-one access means select games
Day-one access applies to eligible releases, not every game published by Microsoft or every game from every publisher. The current Call of Duty exception is particularly significant: future entries will not launch into Ultimate or PC Game Pass under Microsoft’s updated policy.
Rewards are not guaranteed cash back
Higher Rewards earning potential does not equal a guaranteed discount on the subscription. Points depend on eligibility, market and qualifying activity. Consult the Xbox Rewards information before treating Rewards as part of your monthly savings calculation.
Bottom line
Essential is the low-cost multiplayer choice, Premium is the most balanced console tier for players willing to wait, PC Game Pass is the focused option for Windows users, and Ultimate is the premium bundle for people who genuinely use its cross-platform access and extra services. The key correction is simple: Ultimate’s $29.99 price belonged to the October 2025 increase. The current U.S. price is $22.99, but future Call of Duty games are no longer promised on day one.
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.
