Microsoft rebrands Game Pass — Ultimate now $30/month
Microsoft has rebranded Xbox Game Pass into three tiers — Essential, Premium and Ultimate — and raised prices for the high-end plan. Here’s what changed and what it means for players.
Key changes
- Game Pass Ultimate: $29.99/month (was $19.99–$20), a 50% increase. No annual/quarterly option announced; annual cost now ~$360.
- PC Game Pass: Raised to $16.50/month.
- New tier names: Standard → Premium ($14.99/mo), Core → Essential ($9.99/mo). Premium & Essential now include PC games.
- Added content: Ubisoft+ is included in Ultimate (adds +45 games today, many Assassin’s Creed & Far Cry titles). Fortnite Crew joins Ultimate on Nov 18 (battle pass + 1,000 V‑Bucks monthly).
- Day‑one games: Ultimate members will have access to 75+ day‑one releases per year across console, PC and cloud gaming (~6 per month).
- Cloud gaming: Xbox Cloud Gaming is out of beta; Ultimate subscribers get Microsoft’s higher‑quality streaming tier with lower wait times.
- Rewards: Ultimate can earn up to $100/year in rewards; Premium up to $50/year; Essential up to $25/year.
Pricing context
At $360/year, Game Pass Ultimate is now more than twice the annual cost of PlayStation Plus Premium (~$160/year). Microsoft also recently raised Xbox Series X/S console prices in the US, and ASUS/ROG’s Xbox Ally handheld preorders include a higher‑end $1,000 model.
Links & sources
- Official Xbox announcement: Xbox News — Game Pass updates
- Coverage and analysis: GameSpot — Game Pass price hike
- ROG Ally (Amazon search / affiliate): Buy or pre-order ROG Ally on Amazon
What this means for you
If you’re an Ultimate subscriber the sticker shock is real, but Microsoft added notable value: Ubisoft+ library, Fortnite Crew, more day‑one releases, and full cloud access. Decide whether the new extras justify the higher monthly fee or if switching to Premium/Essential makes more sense.
What will you do? Keep Ultimate, downgrade, or cancel? Share your decision and why in the comments below.
Note: This post draws on official Microsoft announcements and trusted news reporting. No links to the original Engadget RSS article are included.