Microsoft has announced a significant increase in the price of its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, effective immediately. The monthly fee will rise from $19.99 to $29.99, marking a 50 percent hike. This decision is part of a broader rebranding of the Xbox Game Pass plans, which includes enhancements designed to justify the elevated costs, reports 24brussels.
The rebranding includes renaming Xbox Game Pass Core to Xbox Game Pass Essential and Standard to Xbox Game Pass Premium. According to Dustin Blackwell, director of gaming and platform communications at Microsoft, the new structures will provide subscribers with “bigger game libraries,” featuring PC games across all tiers, along with unlimited cloud gaming access for Essential and Premium users.
In a notable upgrade, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will now provide access to over 400 titles worldwide, including many from partners who intend to continue bringing their future games to the platform. On its first day under the new pricing structure, Microsoft is adding 45 new games, including Hogwarts Legacy and various Assassin’s Creed titles. The company also indicated a commitment to offering more than 75 day-one releases each year, a 50 percent increase from the previous year.
Along with the Game Pass expansions, users will benefit from the inclusion of Ubisoft Plus Classics, granting access to a selection of Ubisoft games across console, PC, and cloud. Furthermore, starting November 18, the Fortnite Crew subscription will be part of Ultimate, offering subscribers in-game perks valued at approximately $28 monthly.
Microsoft is also enhancing Xbox Cloud Gaming by exiting beta while introducing 1440p resolution support and bitrate improvements for select devices, a feature exclusive to Ultimate subscribers. Additionally, users can benefit from a revamped rewards program that allows them to earn up to $100 annually through gameplay.
Xbox Game Pass Premium
Xbox Game Pass Premium will maintain a monthly fee of $14.99 while expanding the library to include over 200 games, enabling access to PC games such as Diablo IV and Hogwarts Legacy. Premium subscribers will also enjoy unlimited access to Xbox Cloud Gaming without needing an Ultimate subscription, although they will miss out on some day-one launch titles.
Game Pass Premium subscribers will receive additional in-game perks, previously exclusive to Ultimate members, and can earn up to $50 a year through Microsoft’s rewards program.
Xbox Game Pass Essential
Game Pass Essential will retain the monthly price of $9.99 but will now feature over 50 titles instead of the original Core’s more than 25 games, alongside unlimited cloud access.
PC Game Pass Price Changes and More
Simultaneously, Microsoft is increasing the price of its PC Game Pass subscription from $11.99 to $16.49—an increase of nearly 40 percent. Blackwell clarified that while PC Game Pass subscribers will miss out on Ubisoft Plus Classics, they will still gain approximately 50 additional titles.
Although Xbox Game Pass Essential and Premium remain at their current price points in the U.S., this may vary in other markets. Existing subscribers of Game Pass Core and Standard will be automatically upgraded to the Essential and Premium plans. Pricing changes for new subscribers come into effect immediately, while current subscribers will see the changes in their next billing cycle.
These latest pricing adjustments follow Microsoft’s considerable investments in Game Pass, with Blackwell confirming that the company signed deals with over 150 partners to enhance the catalog’s offerings over the past year.
Additionally, Microsoft plans to raise the pricing of its Xbox consoles later this week in the U.S., with the Xbox Series X now seeing a $150 increase since six months ago. The newly revealed Xbox Ally X handheld is set to launch at $999.99 in the U.S.
“We understand price increases are never fun for anybody, but we’re trying to reinforce by adding more value to these plans as well,” Blackwell stated. “It’s something we don’t take lightly, and we’re listening to the feedback of players and the community to provide more of what they’re asking for.”
