Quick Answer
Yes — Microsoft raised Xbox Game Pass prices in October 2025.
-
Ultimate is now $29.99/month (up from $19.99) and includes 400+ games, 75+ day-one releases, Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew, and upgraded cloud gaming.
-
Standard has been rebranded to Premium ($14.99/month) but no longer includes day-one games.
-
Console-only plans? Gone for good.
👉 Translation? You’re paying more than ever — and depending on your gaming habits, it may or may not be worth it.
What Changed With Xbox Game Pass Pricing?
Microsoft has completely overhauled its subscription tiers:
| Tier | Price | Features | Big Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $9.99/month | 50+ curated games, unlimited cloud gaming, member deals | Entry tier |
| Premium | $14.99/month | 200+ games (including PC), unlimited cloud, member deals. Xbox exclusives arrive up to 1 year later (❌ no day-one, ❌ no CoD) | Rebrand of Standard |
| Ultimate | $29.99/month | 400+ games, 75+ day-one releases, Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew, EA Play, cloud upgrades, new rewards (worth up to $100/yr) | +$10 hike |
🚨 Discontinued: Console-only $10.99 plan → replaced entirely by Premium.
Why Did Microsoft Raise Prices (Again)?
-
Skyrocketing Development Costs: AAA titles now cost $100M–$300M each.
-
$69B Activision Blizzard Acquisition: Call of Duty, Overwatch, Diablo aren’t cheap to support.
-
Subscriber Growth Plateau: Still ~30M users → Microsoft focuses on revenue per player.
-
Industry Trend: Netflix, Disney+, PlayStation Plus… all raised prices in 2025.
-
Perfect Timing: The new hike arrived just before Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launches in Nov 2025.
How This Affects Different Gamers
Casual Gamers (1–2 games/month)
-
Before: $10.99 Console felt fair.
-
Now: $14.99 Premium = overpaying.
👉 Best Move: Downgrade to Essential or just buy games outright.
Moderate Gamers (3–5 games/month)
-
Before: $10.99 Console with day-one games = 🔥 deal.
-
Now: $14.99 Premium without day-one = 😬 downgrade.
👉 Best Move: Either switch to Ultimate or rotate subscriptions seasonally.
Heavy Gamers (daily/multi-platform)
-
Before: Ultimate was already king.
-
Now: $29.99 is steep, but the extras (Ubisoft+ + Fortnite Crew + day-one) add value.
👉 Best Move: Stick with Ultimate if you game daily.
PC-Only Gamers
-
Before: $9.99/month was unbeatable.
-
Now: PC Game Pass sits at ~$16.49 with day-one intact.
👉 Best Move: Still worth it if you play multiple PC releases.
What You’re Actually Paying For
-
Essential: 50+ curated games, cloud access, member discounts.
-
Premium: 200+ games, PC support, delayed Xbox exclusives, cloud access.
-
Ultimate: 400+ games, 75+ day-one releases, Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew, EA Play, cloud streaming, and new rewards system.
💡 If you play 3+ day-one games a year, Ultimate still pays for itself compared to buying $70 games individually.
Xbox Game Pass vs Competitors (2025)
| Service | Price | Key Features | Who It’s For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Game Pass Ultimate | $29.99/mo | Console + PC + Cloud + Day-one + Ubisoft+ + EA | Hardcore Xbox players |
| PlayStation Plus Premium | $17.99/mo | 400+ games, cloud, classics (❌ no day-one) | Cheaper alternative |
| Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion | $49.99/yr | Old-school classics + DLC | Casual/budget players |
| EA Play | $4.99/mo | EA titles only | FIFA / sports fans |
| Ubisoft+ | $17.99/mo | Ubisoft-only catalog | Assassin’s Creed lovers |
Should You Keep or Cancel Game Pass?
Keep If:
✔️ You play 3+ games/month
✔️ You love Xbox exclusives at launch
✔️ You game on PC + console
✔️ You use cloud gaming
Cancel or Downgrade If:
❌ You play <3 games/month
❌ Day-one access doesn’t matter
❌ $360/year feels too much
❌ You rarely finish your games anyway
Money-Saving Hacks
-
Annual Prepaid Cards: Buy on Black Friday → save $40–70.
-
Microsoft Rewards: Use Bing searches → free months.
-
Family Sharing: Split Ultimate via Home Console.
-
Subscribe Strategically: Only during big releases → save $120+/yr.
-
Buy Favorites Outright: Grab FIFA, Halo, Minecraft on sale → lifetime ownership.
Real User Reactions
“They removed the best feature (day-one) from cheaper plans.”
“Ultimate is too expensive for what I get.”
“I’ll just buy games on sale instead.”
Tom, 28: “I loved Game Pass at $10.99. $14.99 without day-one? Not worth it.”
Priya, 22: “$360/year is more than my Netflix + Spotify combined. I canceled.”
FAQ: Xbox Game Pass Price Changes
Q: When did the Xbox Game Pass price increase?
A: October 1, 2025.
Q: Can I still get Console-only at $10.99?
A: No, it’s gone.
Q: Is Ultimate worth $29.99?
A: Yes, if you play at least 3 new releases a year or want Ubisoft+ + cloud.
Q: What’s the difference between Premium & Ultimate?
A: Premium = no day-one, fewer games. Ultimate = everything.
Q: Can I share Game Pass?
A: Yes, via Xbox Home Console sharing.
Final Thoughts: Should You Stick With Xbox Game Pass?
Microsoft’s October 2025 hike shows the end of the cheap Game Pass era.
Game Pass is now a premium service, not a budget hack.
-
Ultimate ($29.99): Best for hardcore gamers who want day-one access + Ubisoft+ + Fortnite Crew.
-
Premium ($14.99): Weak value without day-one — skip it.
-
Essential ($9.99): Best for casual or multiplayer-only gamers.
👉 Pro tip: Check your last 90 days of play. If you didn’t touch at least 3 Game Pass titles, you’re overpaying. Buy your must-play games instead — and keep your wallet happy.
wow!