Microsoft announces Game Pass price increases and revamped tiers for PC and Xbox

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Before the launch of The Outer Worlds 2, Microsoft’s highly anticipated RPG this month, the company revealed some changes to its Xbox Game Pass service, including a significant price hike for subscriptions.

We’re updating Game Pass with new plans and some price adjustments for both Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Starting today, Game Pass Ultimate will cost $29.99 monthly. While we’re adding benefits like Ubisoft+ Classics, this is a significant price increase. Here’s a breakdown of the new pricing across the three tiers, as shown in the image shared by Xbox: Game Pass Essential at $9.99 per month, Game Pass Premium at $14.99 per month, and Game Pass Ultimate at $29.99 per month. Keep in mind that only the Ultimate tier gives you access to games on day one.

Existing Xbox Game Pass Standard members will automatically receive an upgrade to the Premium tier. Although it wasn’t highlighted in the Xbox Wire post, the price of PC Game Pass has increased to $16.49 per month, up from $11.99. Unlike the other tiers, this subscription doesn’t include any new benefits to explain the higher cost. The Verge first reported on the PC Game Pass price increase. These changes further complicate the current subscription options following the recent adjustments, as seen in what games are available in each tier – for example, as detailed in my RPGs on Game Pass article.

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2025-10-01 17:55