Microsoft introduced major changes to Xbox Game Pass. Every subscription tier now has new names, updated prices, and adjustments to which games and features are included. Fans responded with frustration, cancellations, and a rush to secure multiple subscriptions before the changes took effect.
New Tier Names and Prices
The old Core and Standard plans have been replaced with Essential and Premium. Essential remains $9.99 per month, while Premium rises to $14.99 per month, a 25 percent increase. The biggest change affects Game Pass Ultimate, which jumps from $19.99 to $29.99 per month, a 50 percent increase. PC Game Pass also moves from $11.99 to $16.49 per month, a 37 percent rise. Microsoft says the price updates reflect added content and improved technology across the service.
Added Perks and Content
Along with the price changes, Microsoft has added new benefits. Cloud gaming, previously exclusive to Ultimate, is now available with Essential and Premium. Ultimate subscribers gain access to Ubisoft+ Classics and more than 75 day-one releases each year. Fortnite Crew is now included in Ultimate packages, and rewards have been boosted. Ultimate users can earn up to $100 annually in store credit, while Premium users can earn up to $50.
What Players Lose
Not all changes are popular. Call of Duty titles are no longer part of Premium and are now reserved for Ultimate. Microsoft also altered how Rewards points are applied. Players can no longer redeem points directly for Game Pass time and must first convert them into Xbox gift cards.
Expanded Partnerships and Uncertainty
Microsoft increased its investment in Game Pass this year and partnered with more than 150 publishers to grow the catalog. The library is expected to expand further over the coming months. Confusion arose when first-party titles like Age of Mythology Retold appeared in the leaving soon section, raising questions about how long some exclusives will remain available.
A Push Toward Ultimate
The changes make the differences between tiers clearer. Essential and Premium offer lower-cost options, while Ultimate combines the largest library with the most extras. Microsoft is betting that day-one releases, added perks, and exclusive franchises will keep many players subscribed even with higher monthly costs. Some analysts expect casual players may leave, but the company believes the expanded package provides enough value to justify the increases for committed subscribers.
Looking Ahead
Xbox Game Pass continues to be one of the most talked-about subscription services in gaming. The next few months will show whether players see enough value in the new structure to stay subscribed.
UPDATE (October 5, 2025): Gamestop announced that they continue to sell the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $19.99/month.
I don’t have Game Pass, but from the outside it feels like the new perks are just a way to push everyone toward Ultimate with those big price hikes.
I was so disappointed in this change. It’s the bait and switch move.
I have a hard time justifying that kind of monthly cost for the amount of gaming I do.
Great content! The list of tools at the end was a lovely bonus.
Not thrilled with the price increase. It would have to happen eventually, they were obviously providing a great value with their initial offering… but yeah.
I still think it remains to be seen if Game Pass is a viable options especially with so many recent studio closures.
This is interesting to know!
But is it worth the price 🤔?
Ok so being on disability checks this means a lot. A 50% increase should not have been their knee jerk reaction to not getting their way to having game price increases up to $80. This is ridiculous.
Harsh for all the individuals who have game pass and decide to continue keeping it.
No sure what the future holds for Xbox.
I am not happy about this price increase. Thinking about canceling my recurring subscription.
Who needs higher prices? But, nothing is free either.
it’s sad that this is the current state of game pass and xbox as a whole, it’s crazy how a few months ago we thought that xbox was going crazy and doing insane😢