Microsoft Rebrands Game Pass — Ultimate Now $29.99/mo
Microsoft announced a major overhaul of Xbox Game Pass on October 1, 2025: the service now has three rebranded tiers (Essential, Premium, Ultimate) and Game Pass Ultimate has increased to $29.99 per month (up from $20). That’s a steep rise and comes amid other Xbox price adjustments and new hardware announcements.
What’s included in Ultimate now
- Ubisoft+ added to Game Pass Ultimate (adds many Ubisoft titles).
- Fortnite Crew will be included for Ultimate members starting Nov 18 (monthly battle pass + 1,000 V‑Bucks and perks).
- More than 45 games added immediately to Ultimate, plus an expanded library of 400+ games.
- Access to 75+ day‑one games per year across Xbox, PC and cloud (average 6/month).
- Xbox Cloud Gaming out of beta with Microsoft’s highest‑quality streaming option and reduced wait times.
- Earn up to $100 in rewards per year by playing games.
Price context
Game Pass Ultimate at $29.99/mo (about $360/yr) is now more than double PlayStation Plus Premium’s annual price (~$160). Microsoft previously raised Ultimate from $17 to $20 in July 2024 — so this latest change nearly doubles the cost within about 15 months.
Related hardware & availability
- Xbox Series X/S price increases have been announced for the US, taking effect this Friday (check official Xbox communications for details).
- ASUS ROG Xbox Ally handheld preorders went live, with higher‑end models priced around $1,000. You can check availability on Amazon: ROG Xbox Ally on Amazon.
Sources
- Official Xbox announcement: news.xbox.com — Xbox blog (Oct 1, 2025)
- Coverage and analysis: CGM Online — Xbox Game Pass price/tier coverage
Bottom line
Ultimate adds notable value — Ubisoft+ and Fortnite Crew alone offset part of the price for some players — but the price jump is significant. Is the expanded library and perks enough to keep you subscribed?
Question for readers: Will you keep Game Pass Ultimate at $29.99/mo, downgrade, or cancel? Tell us why in the comments.