The Xbox Game Pass price increase of October 2025 hit Ultimate subscribers hardest, and the story took an unusual turn afterward. Microsoft raised Game Pass Ultimate from $19.99 to $29.99 a month, then cut it to $22.99 in April 2026. This guide shows what every plan costs today, how the prices got here, and what you gain or lose at each tier.
You will also find a simple way to pick the right plan and three ways to lower your bill. All prices are in US dollars and can differ by region.
Quick Answer
The October 2025 Xbox Game Pass price increase pushed Ultimate up 50%, from $19.99 to $29.99 per month. Microsoft partly reversed it on April 21, 2026, so Ultimate now costs $22.99 and PC Game Pass costs $13.99. Essential ($9.99) and Premium ($14.99) kept their prices. The trade-off is that new Call of Duty games no longer arrive on day one.
Current Game Pass Prices by Plan
Here is where each plan stands after the Xbox Game Pass price increase and the later price cut.
| Plan | Monthly price (US) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $9.99 | Online console multiplayer and a small library |
| Premium | $14.99 | Console players who can wait for new releases |
| PC Game Pass | $13.99 | Players who only game on Windows |
| Ultimate | $22.99 | Console, PC and cloud gaming with day-one releases |
Note: Microsoft confirmed the April cut in its official Xbox Wire Game Pass announcement. Prices vary by region and can change again, so check the Xbox site before you subscribe.
Xbox Game Pass Price Increase Timeline
Ultimate has gone up several times in three years, which is why each Xbox Game Pass price increase felt bigger than the last.
| When | What changed | Ultimate price |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Game Pass and Ultimate both rose | $14.99 to $16.99 |
| 2024 | Ultimate and PC Game Pass raised again | $16.99 to $19.99 |
| October 1, 2025 | Ultimate up 50%, plans renamed | $19.99 to $29.99 |
| April 21, 2026 | Price cut, new Call of Duty off day one | $29.99 to $22.99 |
Today’s $22.99 is still $3 above the price before October 2025, which works out to roughly 15% more.
What Changed in October 2025
The October change was bigger than a simple price bump, because Microsoft restructured the lineup at the same time.
- Ultimate rose 50% — from $19.99 to $29.99 per month, effective immediately.
- PC Game Pass rose about 38% — from $11.99 to $16.49 per month.
- Core became Essential — the price stayed at $9.99.
- Standard became Premium — the price stayed at $14.99, with Xbox-published games arriving within a year of launch.
Why Microsoft raised and then cut the price
Microsoft presented the hike as the price of a larger Ultimate package. Many subscribers saw it as a 50% bill increase for a service they already paid for.
The backlash to the Xbox Game Pass price increase was loud enough that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma acknowledged Ultimate had become too expensive for many players. Microsoft described the April cut as a response to player feedback.
What the April 2026 Price Cut Changed
- Ultimate fell by $7 — from $29.99 to $22.99 per month, about 23% lower.
- PC Game Pass fell to $13.99 — down from $16.49.
- Essential and Premium stayed put — $9.99 and $14.99.
- Call of Duty moved off day one — future titles join the following holiday season, roughly a year after release. Games already in the library remain.
Over a full year, the October 2025 Xbox Game Pass price increase meant $359.88 for Ultimate. At $22.99 you pay $275.88, a saving of $84.
Heads up: if you subscribed mainly for day-one Call of Duty, the lower price comes with a real trade-off. Plan to buy new releases separately or wait about a year.
Which Game Pass Plan Is Worth It Now?
The best plan after any Xbox Game Pass price increase depends on how you play, not on the headline price.
- Essential ($9.99) — online console multiplayer and a smaller library. It suits players who mostly buy their own games.
- Premium ($14.99) — a larger console library plus Xbox-published games within a year of launch (Call of Duty excluded).
- PC Game Pass ($13.99) — the PC library with day-one PC releases. It is the obvious pick if you never play on console.
- Ultimate ($22.99) — console, PC and cloud gaming together, with day-one releases (new Call of Duty excluded) and extras such as EA Play.
3 Easy Ways to Save on Game Pass Today
Whatever the Xbox Game Pass price increase did to your bill, these three steps can bring it down.
- Match the plan to your platform — PC-only players save $9.00 a month by choosing PC Game Pass over Ultimate.
- Step down if you rarely play day-one releases — Premium costs $8.00 less than Ultimate and still adds new Xbox-published games within a year.
- Subscribe in bursts — pay for a month or two when games you want arrive, then pause. You keep your profile and earned Gamerscore while the subscription is off.
Want to see how your own profile looks? You can look up any account with the Xbox Gamertag Finder.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Trusting old headlines — many pages still treat $29.99 as the current price. An old Xbox Game Pass price increase headline is not today’s price.
- Ignoring regional pricing — the figures here are US prices, and your local price may differ.
- Paying for Ultimate for one game — check whether that game is actually day one on your plan before you subscribe.
- Skipping the naming rules on a new account — if you sign up fresh, pick a name that passes Xbox’s gamertag naming rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prices have moved often since the 2023 Xbox Game Pass price increase, so re-check before you pay. While you are here, check whether your favorite name is still free with the Xbox Gamertag Availability Checker, or see how other players’ profiles compare.
Try the Xbox Gamertag Finder
Browse Xbox gamertag statistics