Microsoft has increased the price of its Xbox Game Pass by 50%, stating that the move is intended to provide "more flexibility, choice, and value to all players"

The cost of Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass subscription service is increasing, with the premium plan, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, rising from $19.99/£14.99 to $29.99/£22.99 monthly.

The standard tier, now known as Xbox Game Pass Premium, has gone up from $11.99/£9.99 to $14.99/£10.99 monthly. The lowest tier, formerly called Core and now named Xbox Game Pass Essential, is priced at $9.99/£6.99. Similarly, the PC Game Pass has increased from $11.99/£9.99 to $16.49/£13.49 per month.

Microsoft attributed the rise to the expansion of its offerings, which now include Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics, valued at $11.99/month and $7.99/month, respectively, in its Ultimate library. Enhancements in Xbox Cloud Gaming quality and yearly access to over 75 new releases, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, are also part of the offering.

The company stated, "Our goal with Game Pass has been clear: deliver unmatched value, benefits, and a deep library of games for our players," emphasizing the steady growth in subscriber and creator satisfaction. The evolving strategy aims to offer more options and value to players, catering to diverse preferences for new releases, unexpected discoveries, or cross-platform play.

However, some players reported issues accessing their accounts to check or cancel their subscriptions in light of the price changes.

This price adjustment follows a recent notice that the cost of the Xbox Series X|S consoles in the U.S. will also be increasing, ranging from $20 to $70.

Additionally, new data from August 2025 indicated that Xbox users engaged with an average of 5.7 different games per month, compared to 3.7 games for PlayStation users.