Xbox Game Pass was one of the first gaming subscription services, and it was introduced back in June 2017, with over 100 titles on offer. Now, almost nine years later, over 500 games can be downloaded and played, with a variety of subscription tiers available to cater to various entry points.
However, whilst the service may have expanded over the years, so has its price risen, and way more than once. What used to be an affordable way to play tons of games is now a service that many skip out on due to its price.
But is Xbox Game Pass too expensive? Insider Gaming has broken down the notion below.
How Much Is Xbox Game Pass? Every Tier, Explained
Currently, Xbox Game Pass has four tiers, with the cheapest coming in at $9.99 a month, and the most expensive tripling that fee to reach $29.99 a month.
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Here are the four tiers of Xbox Game Pass, as well as their relative costs per month, adjusted for multiple currencies.
| Xbox Game Pass Tier | Xbox Game Pass Price/Month | How Many Games/Tier | When Do Xbox-Published Games Get Added? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $9.99 £6.99 €8.99 | 50+ | N/A |
| Premium | $14.99 £10.99 €12.99 | 200+ | Within 12 months of launch |
| Ultimate | $29.99 £22.99 €26.99 | 500+ | Day one of launch |
| PC | $16.49 £13.49 €14.99 | Hundreds+ | Day one of launch |
Generally speaking, if you want a chance at playing the latest and greatest games on offer, you’d want to subscribe to Game Pass Premium. But coming in at essentially $30 a month, it’s a tough ask for the average gamer, and it’s led to some tough conversations about the service’s pricing.
Is Xbox Game Pass Too Expensive?
Xbox’s new CEO, Asha Sharma, recently admitted that Xbox Game Pass has become too expensive.
If the company’s own CEO thinks that the subscription service is too expensive, then it probably is! Xbox have hiked the prices numerous times over the years, but the toughest pill to swallow was in October 2025, when the Ultimate Tier was bumped by 50% in some regions.
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Naturally, that caused a wave of outrage amongst fans, with many deciding to cancel their subscription altogether. Sharma has made it clear that one of her priorities is to evolve Game Pass into a more flexible system, though she admitted that it’d take time to test and learn around.
When those changes could come into play remains a mystery. It’s unlikely that Xbox will cheapen the pre-existing tiers, though there have been rumors suggesting that new tiers could be implemented in the future.
Ultimately, it’s down to individual financial status when deciding if something is too expensive, but even so, there does seem to be a general consensus that Xbox Game Pass doesn’t quite offer enough bang for your buck.
What are your thoughts on Xbox Game Pass? Are you a subscriber? Share your thoughts in the official Insider Gaming Discord Server.
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Charlie is one of Insider Gaming's Guides Writers who's been in the gaming industry for a little over a year. Unfortunately for him, he enjoys every video game genre out…
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