Xbox Game Pass has seen another price hike, this time boosting the cost of Ultimate by as much as 50%, raising questions on whether it still presents value for money—and we’ve got a full breakdown on whether you should buy Xbox Game Pass.
The latest price increase was announced on October 1, with the controversial price hike coming alongside the addition of over 90 new games to the service and the news that Fortnite Crew is now included with an Ultimate subscription. Amid those changes, there was a flood of players looking to cancel their subscription.
If you’re mulling over what to do with your subscription, or are wondering whether it’s worth signing up, we’ve got a full breakdown for you.
Is Xbox Game Pass Worth it?
Whether Xbox Game Pass is worth it depends on your personal preferences, such as other existing subscriptions you have and the games you like to play.
For example, if you already subscribe to Fortnite Crew, it might be worth considering a Game Pass Ultimate subscription if you plan to play several other games. As a counter, though, it’s not worth subscribing if Fortnite is the only game you play.
The annual cost of a Game Pass Ultimate subscription is $360 a year, more than it costs to buy a Series S console, which is equal to around four-and-a-half $80 games. If you flood your library with big releases regularly, Game Pass could certainly save you money.
There are other versions of Game Pass subscriptions available, however, that can save you money, though you won’t benefit from the same rewards.
All Xbox Game Pass Benefits & Tiers, Explained
Xbox Game Pass has three tiers, offering varying rewards, with prices ranging from $9.99 a month to $29.99 a month.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the most expensive version of the subscription service, though it comes with the largest game library, all Xbox-published games on Day One, and membership of Fortnite Crew, Ubisoft+ Classics, and EA Play.
Essential, meanwhile, is the cheapest subscription available at $9.99 a month, though it has a much smaller library of games included and doesn’t have any day one releases.
Premium is the middle tier, with around half the game library of Ultimate, though the big difference is Xbox-published games won’t arrive on the service day one, instead landing within a year of launch.
The table below has a full breakdown of costs and benefits.
| Game Pass Tier | Price | Annual Cost | Annual Rewards (Max) | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $9.99/Month | $119.88 | $25 | – 50+ Games – Unlimited Cloud Gaming – In-Game Benefits – Online Multiplayer |
| Premium | $14.99/Month | $179.88 | $50 | – 200+ Games – Xbox-Published Games within one year of launch – Unlimited Cloud Gaming – In-Game Benefits – Online Multiplayer |
| Ultimate | $29.99/Month | $359.88 | $100 | – 400+ Games – 75+ Day One Games annually, including Xbox Published games Day One – Ubisoft+ Classics – EA Play – Fortnite Crew – Unlimited Cloud Gaming – In-Game Benefits – Online Multiplayer |
All Major Upcoming Game Pass Day One Releases
Xbox promises 75+ Day One titles for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, which will certainly be the biggest lure of membership.
As mentioned, the annual cost is around four-and-a-half $80 games, so it’s worth considering a membership if several of the games listed below are on your must-play list. Also, remember this isn’t a full list of all the upcoming Day One releases, and is instead a snippet.
- Ninja Gaiden 4 (Oct. 21, 2025)
- The Outer Worlds 2 (Oct. 29, 2025)
- Football Manager 2026 (Nov. 4, 2025)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (Nov. 14, 2025)
- Powerwash Simulator 2 (Fall 2025)
- High on Life 2 (Feb. 16, 2025)
- Forza Horizon 6 (Fall 2026)
- Fable (2026)
- Subnautica 2 (2026)
- Gears of War: E-Day (TBC)
- State of Decay 3 (TBC)
- Ark 2 (TBC)
Should You Buy Xbox Game Pass?
You should definitely buy Xbox Game Pass if you’re a player who enjoys diving into regular games, or if you already purchase separate subscriptions that are included in the service.
If you’re only concerned about online multiplayer and a handful of free games, Essential is the tier for you, while Premium is a good option for those who want a more expanded library.
While Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the most expensive tier by far, it’s worth the money if you want to access the latest Xbox releases day one, especially if they’re titles you were planning to pay for separately.
Remember though, you can change your subscription at any time, so if there’s a title you want to play at launch, you can upgrade for that month and then downgrade again later down the line.
Do you think Game Pass still represents value for money? Let us know your thoughts in the Insider Gaming forum.
For your next read, take a look at all the pre-order bonuses for The Outer Worlds 2, and check out our list of the best new horror games to play this Halloween.
