Want to know how much Xbox Game Pass costs in 2025, which subscriptions are available, what is included, and whether it is actually worth it for you? We have gathered all the key details on prices, content, and benefits.
Xbox Game Pass is one of the most popular subscription services in gaming and has continued to evolve since its launch in 2017. By now, the service includes multiple tiers, different pricing models, and a range of extra perks. Since the 2023 change that replaced Xbox Live Gold with Game Pass Core, a lot has happened, including price changes.
In this guide, you will learn which subscription tiers currently exist, what they include, how much they cost, whether they are worth it for you, and how you can test different plans at a lower price.
- Note: In the meantime, Xbox Next has also been announced, which is said to focus on even better visuals and a more sustainable design. You can find all current info and rumors in the linked guide.
Xbox Game Pass Prices: Current Subscription
Right now, Microsoft offers four Game Pass variants: Core, Standard, PC Game Pass, and Ultimate. Each tier targets a specific audience.
Game Pass Essential (Cost: $9.99 /month)
Essential is the successor to Xbox Live Gold and gives you access to online multiplayer on Xbox consoles as well as a curated selection of around 50 games. It is the base tier, aimed mainly at multiplayer players.
- Access to 50+ games
- Online console multiplayer
- Discounts and deals
Game Pass Premium (Cost: $14.99 /month)
Game Pass Premium is basically the new console subscription without access to day-one games. This gives you access to a large catalog of console games.
- Access to 200+ games
- Online console multiplayer
- Discounts and deals
- Xbox new releases within a year after launch
PC Game Pass (Cost: $16.49 /month)
PC Game Pass is aimed at players who only play on PC. The subscription includes:
- all Microsoft first-party games on release day (day one)
- many third-party titles
- access to EA Play
- member offers, discounts, and in-game perks
Game Pass Ultimate (Cost: $29.99 / month)
Game Pass Ultimate combines all benefits: console and PC access, day-one games, cloud gaming on mobile devices, EA Play, online multiplayer, and regular bonus content.
- Cloud gaming on smartphones, tablets, and in browsers
- Access to EA Play with lots of additional games
- Ubisoft+ Classics
- so-called “perks” like in-game bonuses, skins, or discounts for other services
- special content for Riot Games
- regular discounts on games and add-ons (sometimes up to 20 percent), also for PC Game Pass
- 75+ games available on release day
Which Subscription the Best for You?
- Which subscription is worth it for you depends on how often you play and which benefits you need.
If you mainly play online multiplayer on Xbox and do not need a huge game library, Game Pass Core is the cheapest and most sensible choice.
The new Standard tier is worth it for anyone who plays a lot solo, can live without day-one releases, and still wants a big selection.
PC Game Pass is ideal if you do not have access to a console or simply prefer playing directly on PC. You also benefit from access to EA Play.
Ultimate is the most complete option and makes sense if you:
- play on multiple platforms,
- want to use cloud gaming,
- regularly want to play new Microsoft games on release day. It is also the most comfortable and, long term, most effective solution for heavy users who spend a lot of time in multiplayer.
Xbox Game Pass: Higher prices and internal restructuring
- Some months ago, Microsoft adjusted prices and introduced a new subscription tier.
Microsoft has adjusted prices multiple times over the last two years. From March 2025 in particular, there were noticeable increases across all subscription tiers.
The new Standard tier was also introduced as part of this restructuring, with the previous console subscription being replaced by a slimmer model without day-one access.
One reason for the price change is the growing number of day-one releases and new features like cloud gaming. The change was also meant to reduce abuse via cheaper reseller codes from abroad.
Is there a trial month for Xbox Game Pass?
There used to be a 1-Dollar trial month, but it was discontinued in 2023. Instead, Microsoft still runs promotions from time to time where you can get both PC Game Pass and the Standard tier for $1 for 14 days.
This gives you enough time to explore the game catalog in depth and try out your first games right away. If you like the tier you picked, the subscription will then continue at the usual monthly price.
How often do new games arrive on Xbox Game Pass?
- Microsoft regularly adds new games to Game Pass while removing others.
Every month, you can look forward to plenty of new games on Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft updates the service regularly and usually adds new titles in two waves per month, including both indie games and big blockbusters. In May 2025, for example, games like “Anno 1800“, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II”, “DOOM: The Dark Ages”, and many more were added. The exact number varies, but typically between ten and twenty games are added to the catalog each month.
A particular highlight is the so-called day-one titles: All new games from Xbox Game Studios and selected partner releases are available to you on release day at no extra cost. This does not just apply to smaller productions, but also major releases like “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6”, which was included in Game Pass from day one for the first time.
Xbox Game Pass: How flexible are the subscriptions (cancellation, payments, and more)
Xbox Game Pass is fairly flexible. Your subscription renews automatically each month by default unless you cancel. You can end your subscription at any time online or directly on your console, either by turning off recurring billing or cancelling the subscription entirely.
- Note: Monthly cancellation applies to all tiers, whether Core, Standard, PC, or Ultimate.
Switching between tiers is also possible: you can upgrade from Game Pass Standard to Ultimate, for example, or downgrade the other way. However, keep in mind that prepaid time cannot be converted back into other plans after an upgrade.
What happens to your save files after cancellation?
If you cancel Xbox Game Pass, you will lose access to the games from the subscription once your current billing period ends. Your save files will remain, either stored locally or in the cloud, as long as you keep using your Xbox profile.
If you later buy a game you previously played via Game Pass, you can simply continue with your existing save files. Games you purchased independently of Game Pass will of course remain yours and can still be used.
Xbox Game Pass: Evolution since 2017
Xbox Game Pass officially launched on June 1, 2017, and has expanded what is on offer for Xbox players ever since. At launch, you could access 100+ Xbox One and backward-compatible Xbox 360 games for around $10 per month, including well-known titles like “Halo 5: Guardians”, “NBA 2K16”, and “Gears of War”. Xbox Live Gold members already had exclusive early access starting May 24, 2017.
Since launch, Xbox Game Pass has continued to evolve. Microsoft expanded it to PC, introduced different subscription tiers like Core, Standard, PC, and Ultimate, and added features such as day-one releases and cloud gaming. In February 2024, the global subscriber count was around 34 million.
Which tier is right for you, and if you are already a subscriber, do you only use Game Pass occasionally or on a regular basis? Let us know in the comments.
Source: Xbox
