New Xbox Game Pass Price Hike: Ultimate Tier Now $30/Month with Major Upgrades
Microsoft has officially rolled out another price increase for Xbox Game Pass, with the Ultimate tier now costing $30 per month, a 50% jump from its previous $20 price tag. The change arrives just...
Microsoft has officially rolled out another price increase for Xbox Game Pass, with the Ultimate tier now costing $30 per month, a 50% jump from its previous $20 price tag. The change arrives just weeks before the highly anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launches in November, and it follows a recent Xbox console price adjustment announced last week.
According to Microsoft, this move is part of an effort to deliver “more flexibility, choice, and value” across its subscription tiers.
“We know not everyone wants the same thing in their Xbox experience, so we’re evolving Game Pass to offer more flexibility, choice, and value to all players,” Microsoft stated.
New Xbox Game Pass Plans & Pricing (Effective October 1)
Starting October 1, Microsoft is introducing three upgraded tiers under the Game Pass umbrella: Essential, Premium, and Ultimate. The Core and Standard plans are being phased out, with existing members transitioned automatically to the new tiers.
| Plan | Old Name | New Price | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Game Pass Essential | Core | $10/month | No price change |
| Xbox Game Pass Premium | Standard | $15/month | No price change |
| Xbox Game Pass Ultimate | Ultimate | $30/month | Was $20/month |
| PC Game Pass | — | $16.50/month | Was $12/month |
What’s New in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
The Ultimate tier isn’t just more expensive, it’s also getting what Microsoft calls its “biggest upgrade yet.” Subscribers can now enjoy:
- More day-one releases than ever before
- Access to Fortnite Crew (worth $12/month) starting November 18
- Ubisoft+ Classics library (worth $16/month)
- Enhanced Xbox Cloud Gaming quality up to 1440p
- Best-in-class streaming performance with reduced wait times
The Fortnite Crew membership includes the latest Battle Pass, 1,000 V-Bucks monthly, and exclusive in-game items. Meanwhile, Ubisoft+ Classics brings a library of popular Ubisoft titles across PC, console, and cloud.
Cloud gaming has now officially exited beta, reaching version 1.0, and Ultimate subscribers will enjoy premium access with improved performance.
Bonus Rewards
Game Pass Ultimate members also get upgraded Rewards perks:
- Up to 30% value on select Game Pass games
- 4x points on game and add-on purchases
- 10% back in points on eligible titles
- Up to 20% off select Game Pass games
Xbox Game Pass Essential: Core Gets a Boost
Rebranded from Core, the Essential tier remains $10/month but is now more capable. It includes:
- Unlimited cloud gaming
- Online multiplayer access
- A curated library of 50+ games
- Full PC playability for all catalog titles (previously console-only)
- Select in-game perks
Xbox Game Pass Premium: Expanded Library, Same Price
The Premium tier (formerly Standard) continues at $15/month and now includes:
- A 200+ game library across console and PC
- Access to top titles like Diablo 4 and Hogwarts Legacy
- Unlimited cloud gaming
- Exclusive in-game benefits for titles like League of Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Rainbow Six Siege X
Premium subscribers will get Microsoft’s first-party games within a year of launch – except Call of Duty, which remains exclusive to Ultimate or standalone purchase.
PC Game Pass: Quiet Price Increase
While not spotlighted in Microsoft’s official announcement, PC Game Pass is now $16.50/month (up from $12). It continues to include day-one releases from Microsoft, including Call of Duty titles.
