Microsoft has announced another price increase for its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, with the Ultimate tier now set to cost $30 per month. This adjustment comes just before the anticipated November release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and follows a recent hike in Xbox console prices.
The company justifies these price changes by stating its commitment to providing users with “more” value. According to Microsoft, “We understand that not everyone wants the same thing from their Xbox experience, so we’re evolving Game Pass to offer greater flexibility, choice, and value to all players.”
New Game Pass Tiers and Pricing
Effective October 1, Microsoft is rolling out three updated Game Pass tiers: Essential, Premium, and Ultimate. The previous Core and Standard tiers have been discontinued, with Core subscribers automatically transitioning to Essential and Standard subscribers to Premium. The Ultimate tier will retain its name.
- Xbox Game Pass Essential (formerly Core) — $10/month (no price change)
- Xbox Game Pass Premium (formerly Standard) — $15/month (no price change)
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate — $30/month (previously $20/month)
- PC Game Pass — $16.50/month (previously $12/month)
Ultimate Tier: “Biggest Upgrade Yet” with New Benefits
The Game Pass Ultimate tier has seen a significant 50% price increase, climbing from $20 to $30 per month. Microsoft claims this surge is accompanied by the tier`s “biggest upgrade yet.” So, what exactly does this upgrade include?
Ultimate subscribers will now gain access to “more day-one games than ever before,” along with included access to Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics. Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming quality has also been enhanced, now supporting resolutions up to 1440p. Fortnite Crew, which typically costs $12/month, will be integrated into Game Pass Ultimate starting November 18, offering the latest Fortnite battle pass, 1,000 V-Bucks monthly, and other exclusive benefits. Similarly, Ubisoft+ Classics, valued at $16/month, provides a diverse selection of Ubisoft titles for PC, console, and cloud streaming.
Additional enhancements for the Ultimate tier include “best quality streaming and shortest wait times” for Xbox Cloud Gaming, which has officially moved out of its “beta” phase and is now at version 1.0.
The Rewards program for Ultimate members has also been improved. Players can now achieve up to 30% value on selected Game Pass games, earn 4x points on purchases of games and add-ons, receive 10% back in points on selected Game Pass library titles and add-ons, and benefit from up to 20% off certain Game Pass games.
What`s New for Game Pass Essential
The Game Pass Essential tier (formerly Core) now features unlimited cloud gaming, online multiplayer support, a catalog of over 50 games, and specific in-game perks for select titles. Microsoft has also announced that all titles in this catalog are now “fully playable on PC,” expanding beyond console-only access. The $10/month price for this tier remains unchanged.
What`s New for Game Pass Premium
Game Pass Premium (formerly Standard) now boasts “more games than ever before,” with its library expanding to over 200 titles available across both console and PC, all while maintaining its $15 per month price. Notable new additions as of today include Diablo 4 and Hogwarts Legacy. Moving forward, Premium members will receive Microsoft’s own first-party games within a year of their initial launch, with the exception of Call of Duty titles. Access to Call of Duty games will require an Ultimate subscription or separate purchase.
Premium members also benefit from “unlimited cloud gaming” and new in-game advantages for popular titles such as League of Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Rainbow Six Siege X.
PC Game Pass
Although PC Game Pass was not explicitly detailed in Microsoft`s blog post regarding these changes, users quickly identified that its price is increasing from $12 to $16.50 per month. This tier will continue to offer new day-one releases from Microsoft, including future Call of Duty titles.