Microsoft has increased the cost of Xbox Game Pass by 50% to provide players with enhanced flexibility, choice, and value

Microsoft has announced a price increase for its Xbox Game Pass service. The highest tier, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, will now be $29.99/£22.99 monthly, up from $19.99/£14.99. Meanwhile, what was previously Xbox Game Pass Standard has been rebranded as Xbox Game Pass Premium, with its price rising from $11.99/£9.99 to $14.99/£10.99 per month. The entry-level tier, formerly known as Core and now termed Xbox Game Pass Essential, is priced at $9.99/£6.99. PC Game Pass has also seen a price bump, going from $11.99/£9.99 to $16.49/£13.49 each month.

The company attributes the price increases to the expansion of its offerings, which now include Fortnite Crew (worth $11.99/month) and Ubisoft+ Classics (valued at $7.99/month) in its Ultimate plan. Enhancements such as improved Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming quality and access to more than 75 day-one releases annually, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, are also part of the upgraded service.

"Our objective with Game Pass has been to offer unparalleled value, benefits, and a vast selection of games," Microsoft stated. They noted the steady growth in subscriber and creator satisfaction since the platform's inception in 2017, highlighting a peak in creator participation and player engagement. The company sees Game Pass as a way to connect more players with the games and creators they enjoy.

Microsoft acknowledges that players have different desires regarding their Xbox experience, which is why they are adjusting Game Pass to provide greater flexibility, choice, and value, whether it’s the excitement of launch day titles, discovering lesser-known games, or playing on various platforms such as Xbox consoles, PC, and Xbox Cloud.

Several users have reported difficulties accessing the website or app as they attempt to review or cancel their subscriptions following the recent news.

This pricing adjustment comes shortly after the recent announcement of an upcoming price rise for Xbox Series X|S consoles in the U.S., where prices will go up by $20 to $70 depending on the hardware.

Just days earlier, a study revealed that in August 2025, Xbox users engaged with an average of 5.7 different games monthly, compared to PlayStation users who played 3.7 titles.