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2h ago

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

Microsoft says the higher price reflects expanded libraries, upgraded cloud streaming, new partner perks.

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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

  • Effective today, Game Pass tiers are renamed Essential, Premium, and Ultimate, with U.S. pricing unchanged for Essential ($9.99) and Premium ($14.99), Ultimate rising 50% to $29.99, and PC Game Pass increasing to $16.49.
  • Ultimate now includes 400+ titles, more than 75 day‑one releases annually, Ubisoft+ Classics immediately, EA Play, and Fortnite Crew starting November 18.
  • Xbox Cloud Gaming exits beta with 1440p support and bitrate improvements for Ultimate, and unlimited cloud access is added to Essential and Premium with shorter wait times on higher tiers.
  • Microsoft revamps Rewards so players can earn up to $100 per year on Ultimate, $50 on Premium, and $25 on Essential, with some regions losing direct subscription redemptions in favor of gift cards.
  • Regional pricing varies, with Canada listing Ultimate at CA$33.99, and Microsoft adds 45 games to libraries today, including Hogwarts Legacy and multiple Assassin’s Creed titles.