Xbox unveiled new tiers to its popular Game Pass service, though be warned, the Ultimate plan is getting a major price hike.

Starting October 1, Xbox is rolling out a refreshed lineup of Xbox Game Pass plans—designed to deliver more flexibility, value, and choice for gamers worldwide. Whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore fan, there’s a plan tailored to your style.

Introducing Game Pass Essential, Premium, and Ultimate Plans

Since its debut in 2017, Xbox Game Pass has evolved based on community feedback. The new structure reflects that commitment, offering three tiers:

Essential – $9.99/month
Premium – $14.99/month
Ultimate – $29.99/month

What’s New Across All Plans?

All Game Pass tiers now include:

• Expanded game libraries
• Access to PC titles
• Unlimited cloud gaming on supported devices (new for Essential and Premium)
• In-game benefits for top titles like Riot Games, Call of Duty, and Overwatch 2
• Enhanced rewards programs with more points and exclusive quests

The Game Pass Premium tier provides access to new Xbox-published titles within a year of launch.

Game Pass Ultimate: The Powerhouse and Costly Tier

Ultimate subscribers get the biggest upgrade yet:

• 500+ games in the U.S. (400+ globally), including Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Hollow Knight: Silksong
• 75+ day-one releases annually, featuring Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, High on Life 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, and The Outer Worlds 2
• Premium cloud streaming up to 1440p with minimal wait times
• EA Play, Fortnite Crew (coming Nov. 18), and Ubisoft+ Classics included
• Earn up to $100/year in Store credit just by playing

Why It Matters

It’s clear that Xbox is trying to strategically reposition its Game Pass offerings for specific users. The fact that all the plans include PC Game Pass is a welcome addition. However, the 50% increase on Ultimate is egregious. Though Xbox is trying to soften the hit to the wallet with extra goodies like Fortnite Crew, which is a huge get, expanded store credit, and Ubisoft+ Classics.

The fact that this is the second major price high in a couple of years reveals that gaming is increasingly becoming a more expensive hobby. Especially if you want all the bells and whistles on Game Pass. No doubt Game Pass initially disrupted the industry, and though it took a while, the Game Pass rollout is in full force; it does show that Xbox has a tremendous amount of content in the pipeline. The 75+ day-one releases are evidence of that, but I still can’t help but feel gamers are getting squeezed.