On October 1, 2025, Microsoft announced a price increase for its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, raising it to $29.99 per month. The company is also rebranding its Xbox Game Pass plans and adding new features across all tiers.
Changes to Xbox Game Pass Plans
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will now cost $29.99 a month, reflecting a 50 percent increase from the previous price of $19.99. Microsoft aims to justify this hike by introducing various upgrades across its Game Pass tiers. Xbox Game Pass Core is being renamed to Xbox Game Pass Essential, while the Standard plan will now be called Xbox Game Pass Premium.
According to Dustin Blackwell, director of gaming and platform communications at Microsoft, all three Xbox Game Pass plans will feature larger game libraries, including PC games. Additionally, unlimited cloud gaming will be available to Essential and Premium subscribers for the first time.
Game Pass Ultimate will now provide access to over 400 titles, including many from partners who plan to release future games on the platform. Microsoft is adding 45 games to Game Pass Ultimate today, including a variety of titles and many Ubisoft games. Subscribers will also gain access to over 75 day-one releases each year, a 50 percent increase from the previous year.
New Features and Benefits
Ubisoft Plus Classics is now included in Game Pass Ultimate, offering access to a selection of Ubisoft games across console, PC, and cloud. Starting November 18, Fortnite Crew will also be part of Ultimate, providing subscribers with the Fortnite Battle Pass and monthly V-bucks. Blackwell noted that these additions offer about $28 a month in value to Ultimate subscribers.
Xbox Cloud Gaming is transitioning out of beta and will feature 1440p resolution support and bitrate improvements for select games. These enhancements are exclusive to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. The rewards program is also being revamped, allowing Ultimate subscribers to earn up to $100 per year in store points just by playing games.
Game Pass Premium will maintain its price of $14.99 per month but will now include a larger library of over 200 games available on both Xbox and PC. This tier will also have unlimited cloud access, allowing subscribers to stream titles from the Game Pass library and select owned titles.
While Game Pass Premium will not feature day-one launch titles like Game Pass Ultimate, Microsoft commits to offering new Xbox-published games within a year of their launch. Premium subscribers will also receive in-game benefits and can earn up to $50 a year through the revamped rewards program.
Game Pass Essential will remain at $9.99 per month, now offering more than 50 titles instead of the previous 25. Subscribers can play these titles on PC or console and will have unlimited cloud access. Essential subscribers can also stream select games they own and access in-game benefits from Riot Games.
