Xbox Game Pass Plans, Explained: How Much Does a Subscription Cost?
Which gaming subscription is right for you?
With the video game subscription service offering games like Black Ops 6 and Oblivion Remastered the day they hit shelves, Xbox Game Pass was pitched as one of the most cost-efficient ways to play brand-new games on your Xbox console or PC. For a monthly fee, you can access an almost overwhelming library of games, including everything from vast 100-hour RPGs and cozy farming sims to nail-biting cinematic adventures and tactical shooters.
But how much is that fixed cost? In 2023, Xbox sunset its Gold Membership and decided to fully focus on Xbox Game Pass as its central subscription service. Essentially, Gold rolled into Game Pass, with Microsoft adding more focused plans that allow you to pay for exactly what you want from Xbox’s online services. In 2024, a new "Standard" Game Pass tier was introduced, and, of course, we've already gotten price hikes. Now, in 2025, we're seeing another round of price hikes and what's being pitched as some "new benefits" to go along with them.
Let’s quickly run through all of the Game Pass membership plans so you can get started playing these huge games without any of the hassle. In total, Xbox Game Pass has four plans. These plans were previously known as Xbox Game Pass Core, Xbox Game Pass Standard, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. In October 2025 (going into effect for current subscribers in November), Microsoft announced changes to the first two plans, now known as Xbox Game Pass Essential and Xbox Game Pass Premium, while hiking prices for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Below, we'll go through what each of these plans offers, the drawbacks and the price, so you can decide which works best for you. Note that most plans are exclusive to certain platforms, so make sure you’re buying the correct version of Game Pass depending on where you play. Kind of. The new Xbox Game Pass Premium plan offers a 14-day trial for $1, which isn't quite free. Game Pass used to offer an actually free trial that Microsoft quietly rolled back at some point around the launch of Black Ops 6. Otherwise, Best Buy offers one-month Game Pass Ultimate trials with select purchases. The equivalent to an Xbox Live Gold Membership and what was previously known as Xbox Game Pass Core, Game Pass Essential is the "basic plan" for getting online multiplayer services through your Xbox. Included in the price is access to Xbox’s online multiplayer services and all the discounts and offers made available for members. The Core plan doesn’t let you freely download titles from the full Game Pass library, but you will be able to access a slither of Game Pass’ offerings via a collection of over 50 games included in the membership price. While this plan isn't affected by the most recent price increases, these games are no longer limited to just your Xbox console and can also be played on PC and other supported devices. The plan also gets the added in-game benefits for titles like League of Legends and up to $25 in Store Rewards each year. If you’re just looking to play some multiplayer with friends online and aren’t too bothered about accessing the full Game Pass library, then this is the plan for you. This "in-between" tier was previously known as Game Pass Standard, the newest subscription tier that has once again gone through a number of changes. With partial access to the Xbox Game Pass library, you’ll be able to play over 200 games, including Starfield, Grand Theft Auto 5, Halo Infinite, Diablo IV, Sea of Thieves and many more. This library is frequently updated, but Premium access is now more limited. Another big difference from the Ultimate plan is that you'll get new Xbox-published games "within 12 months of launch" instead of Day One. The Xbox Game Pass Premium plan is best suited to anyone who is looking for a wider library of games each month but isn't too worried about Day One access to new releases. Providing PC players with access to the Game Pass library, Xbox Game Pass PC is the plan for those exclusively interacting with Xbox’s services via their computer. The plan, which has increased to $16.49/month from $11.99/month, unlocks access to the PC Game Pass library as well as granting an EA Play Membership, where you can download titles like Fifa 23, Madden 23, the Sims 4 and Need for Speed: Unbound. In terms of the differences between the console and PC games library, both lineups are largely very similar. There are a few console-exclusive titles, but some games like Grand Theft Auto 5, UFC 4, the Fable series and Skate 3 are only available on Xbox platforms. Aside from console exclusives, PC Game Pass subscribers will now get access to Xbox-published games on launch day. This plan is best suited for exclusively PC players looking to bolster their library with some Xbox exclusives and third-party hits. Considering playing online on PC is free, you also won’t be missing out on some of the Xbox console perks in other plans. The most expensive plan of the bunch, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate aims to be a combination of all three of the previous plans with a few added extras sprinkled on top. Since the announcement the Ultimate plan is increasing by a whopping 50%, from $19.99/month to $29.99/month, the company is trying its best to emphasize these "sprinkles," in part by reducing what's available in the other plans. After purchasing Ultimate for the month, you’ll gain access to online console multiplayer as well as the full console and PC Game Pass libraries (500+ games with new additions every month). This includes access to Xbox-published games on launch day, which used to be part of the $16.99/month plan, but then Black Ops 6 happened. As part of the pricing news, Xbox announced over 45 new games now available on the service and promises Ultimate members will get access to 75+ games on "Day One" every year, including first-party Xbox titles. Aside from the Game Pass library, Ultimate members will automatically get an EA Play membership, access to a new library of Ubisoft+ classics, and a Fortnite Crew membership starting in November. Game Pass Ultimate also offers the "highest quality" streaming for Cloud Gaming. Looking for more Xbox news and updates? Check out our recent breakdown of Xbox's latest business update, which included confirmation of a next-gen console, or head over to our ranked list of the best Xbox Series X and S games you can play right now, which includes some of Game Pass’ biggest and best hits. You can also check out our list of free Xbox games that don't require a subscription at all if you plan on cancelling Xbox Game Pass.How Many Xbox Game Pass Plans Are Available?
Does Game Pass Offer a Free Trial?
Xbox Game Pass Plans and Pricing (as of October 2025)
Xbox Game Pass Essential (PC, Xbox Consoles, Cloud Streaming) - $9.99/month
Xbox Game Pass Premium (PC, Xbox Consoles, Cloud Streaming) - $14.99/month
PC Game Pass (PC Platforms) - $16.49/month
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (PC, Xbox Consoles, Cloud Streaming) - $19.99/month
Breaking Down Xbox Game Pass Plans
Xbox Game Pass Essential - $9.99/month
Xbox Game Pass Premium - $14.99/month
PC Game Pass - $16.49/month
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate - $29.99/month
