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1h ago

Microsoft Overhauls Xbox Game Pass, Raises Ultimate to $29.99 With New Perks

Microsoft says the jump reflects partner bundles, expanded day-one access plus higher-quality cloud streaming.

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Visitors walk past the Xbox booth at the Gamescom video games trade fair in Cologne, western Germany on August 22, 2024. According to organisers, around 1400 exhibitors from 64 countries will be presenting their products during the fair running until August 25, 2024. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)
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Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming titles shown Xbox controller and Xbox Series X titles

Overview

  • Three cross-platform tiers are live today—Essential ($9.99), Premium ($14.99) and Ultimate ($29.99)—with Core subscribers moved to Essential and Standard moved to Premium automatically.
  • Day-one releases are now confined to Ultimate, while Premium will add Xbox-published games within a year of launch, with Call of Duty excluded from that window.
  • PC Game Pass remains available as a separate plan at $16.49 per month in the U.S., a near 40% increase, with regional pricing varying, including higher rates reported in Canada.
  • Ultimate adds Ubisoft+ Classics and retains EA Play, with Fortnite Crew set to join in November; Xbox Cloud Gaming exits beta with up to 1440p streaming and priority access for higher tiers.
  • Microsoft expanded the catalogs today with dozens of titles, including Hogwarts Legacy and Diablo IV at the top tiers, as early community response highlights cancellations and price frustration.