History of Xbox Game Pass Price Increases explained

For the best part of a decade, Xbox Game Pass Has generally been considered one of the best deals in games, with what gives players access to a library with hundreds of games for just a monthly price. But that deal has only gotten a little worse. Microsoft has just revealed a new three -day three -pass system, along with a not so subtle price increase to go alongside them.

The long and short is that the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gets an increase of $ 10 and goes from $ 19.99 to $ 29.99. It is a steep hope, and of course the current subscriber base rolls a bit. While some subscribers believe that the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate new features justify the price increase, others are not as satisfied with the changes. The latter group made its frustration known by trying to cancel their subscription at the moment the news broke on Wednesday, which led to the Game Pass website crashing. But even though this is really the most unfortunate price increase in the Xbox Game Pass history, it is far from the first.

The full story of Xbox Game Pass Price increases

For two years after its debut, the Xbox Game Pass remained a simple $ 9.99 per month, one-level subscription system. But in June 2019, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate was introduced, which combined Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass for both console and PC for $ 14.99 per month. With Xbox Live Gold which cost $ 10 on its own, $ 15 for Game Pass Ultimate was actually a pretty big deal.

In August 2023, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate received a $ 2 price increase, as well as its standard console level, which had stopped at $ 9.99 since the introduction in 2017. However, it is important to note that the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate increased its library size from 191 matches in June 2019 to 429 in August in August.

In July 2024, Microsoft announced another round of changes. Along with an increase of $ 3 for the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass' Console Tier was replaced with Xbox Game Pass Standard, a $ 14.99 per month that offered a more limited selection of games and did not include day titles.

Microsoft has just detailed another review of the Xbox Game Pass, which comes only 15 months after the last. The Xbox Game Pass will now be divided into three levels: essential, premium and ultimate. Each level has its own price tag and set of functions, but the most important detail to remove is that the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will now cost $ 29.99 per month.

Is Xbox Game Pass worth it now? (October 2025)

All that is included in the Xbox Game Pass' new levels

Xbox Game Pass Essential Tier ($ 13.99 per month):

• 50+ games

• Unlimited cloud game

• Online -Console Multiplayer

• Earn up to 25,000 reward points per year

Xbox Game Pass Premium Tier ($ 17.99 per month):

• 200+ games

• New Xbox published games within a year after the launch

• Unlimited cloud game with shorter waiting times

• Earn up to 50,000 reward points per year

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Tier ($ 29.99 per month):

• 400+ games

• 75+ day one game per year, including Xbox published games

• Unlimited cloud games at higher quality and shortest waiting times

• Ubisoft+ classics are included

• EA games are included

• Fortnite crew is included (from November 2025)

• Earn up to 100,000 reward points per year

Is Xbox Game Pass still a good deal?

Together with a really gigantic library with over 400 games, the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now includes everything Ubisoft+ Classics' Library, which himself has over 50 games. Together with this large assortment of experiences, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is engaged in offering over 75 day titles per year, including those published by Xbox. In the case of day supplement, 2025 has undoubtedly been Xbox Game Pass' best year ever, with titles such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33The Blue princeThe Doom: The Dark AgesThe Hollow Knight: SilksongThe Changeand The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered Everyone meets the service in the last ten months.

Although we do not have a complete list of everything that comes to the Xbox Game Pass 2026, it has the potential to be another very strong year by day-a-launches. FableThe Forza Horizon 6The Gears of War: e-dayand High on life 2 Are just some of the games confirmed to come to Game Pass next year, provided they have not met with any major delays.

At FableThe Forza Horizon 6and Gears of War: e-dayThese titles are likely to cost about $ 70 each. With that in mind, $ 30 seems for a month with the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate not so unreasonable, that just means that fans may need to be a little more tactical with their Game Pass subscription. At $ 30 per month, it may be wise for those who primarily subscribe to Game Pass for day-one titles to only register when a new game releases, one that they are happy to spend $ 30 to try and play for a month but not one for whom they are willing to correct $ 70 for.

For those who mainly play their games on Xbox and/or PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate can still be worth the money regardless. $ 30 per month is steep for a subscription service, but it is not as unfortunate if the Xbox player is satisfied with the new games they receive every month and do not feel the need to buy additional titles outside the service.

The addition of Fortnite Crew can also be sufficient to convince some Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to continue renewing each month, self charges $ 11.99 to give the fans all the game's different combat passes and 1,000 V-bucks each month.

Personally, I have to change my Xbox game pass -habits. I have subscribed to Game Pass Ultimate on and off since its debut back in 2019, often taken a few months for a time when I know the service is about to add a handful of games I am interested in. But with the hike to $ 30, I will have to be even more selective with my renewal.

This is especially true because I do not have much use for any of the new “Upgrade” Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now offers. I play Fortnite pretty much, but I usually don't pick up any battle pass (I'm good with my Tmnt leather). I already own most games in Ubisoft+ Classics Library. And my internet is not really up to snuff for high quality cloud games. For me, it is the $ 10 leap just too loud.