Xbox Game Pass Overhauled with Massive Price Hike: Ultimate Plan Nearly Doubles

Microsoft has announced a radical overhaul of its Xbox Game Pass subscription service. In a move that has sent shockwaves through the gaming community, the company has restructured and renamed its plans, headlined by an astronomical price hike for its top-tier Ultimate subscription.

An Unacceptable Price Hike for Ultimate

The monthly fee for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has skyrocketed to $29.99 per month. While Microsoft justifies this move by adding new features, it places a heavy burden on gamers. The company’s rationale cites an “expanded catalog, new partner benefits, and upgraded cloud gaming experience,” but a price increase of this magnitude calls into question the service’s long-standing promise of “unmatched value.”

The newly included perks, such as Fortnite Crew (an $11.99/month value) and Ubisoft+ Classics (valued at approximately $15.98/month), seem to offer significant value on paper. However, this calculation ignores whether users actually need or want these specific services. It appears Microsoft has opted to bundle services and uncontrollably increase the price, rather than offering genuine choice.

The New Plan Structure and Details

Microsoft has restructured Game Pass into three distinct plans:

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate - $29.99/Month

Dubbed by Microsoft as being for “players who want the best of everything,” the Ultimate plan will now seriously strain wallets. Subscribers get:

• Day One Access to over 75 games a year: Including highly anticipated titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, High on Life 2, Keeper, Ninja Gaiden 4, and The Outer Worlds 2.
• Over 400 games: Playable across Xbox console, PC, and cloud.
• Fortnite Crew Membership (starting November 18): Includes the Battle Pass, 1,000 V-Bucks monthly, and more.
• Ubisoft+ Classics: Dozens of Ubisoft titles including the Assassin’s Creed series, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and Far Cry games.
• 1440p Cloud Gaming: Enhanced streaming quality with the shortest wait times.
• EA Play Access.
• Rewards Program: Earn up to $100 per year (100,000 points) in store credit, with 4x points on game purchases and up to 20% off select Game Pass titles.

Over 45 new games were added to Ultimate today, but this rich content comes at a steep cost.

Xbox Game Pass Premium - $14.99/Month

Existing Standard subscribers will be automatically migrated to Premium. This plan includes:

• Over 200 games: On console, PC, and supported devices.
• Over 40 new games added today: Including major titles like Diablo IV and Hogwarts Legacy.
• New Xbox Exclusives: Available within one year of their launch (excluding Call of Duty titles).
• Unlimited Cloud Gaming: Including select games you already own.
• In-Game Perks: For titles like League of Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Rainbow Six Siege.
• PC Library: Now includes titles like Minecraft, Forza Horizon 5, and Grand Theft Auto V.
• Rewards Program: Earn up to $50 per year (50,000 points), with 2x points on purchases.

Although Premium maintains its $14.99 price, the change in day-one access creates a clear divide, effectively telling players to “wait a year” or upgrade.

Xbox Game Pass Essential - $9.99/Month

Former Core subscribers will be upgraded to Essential. The most basic plan now offers:

• Over 50 games: Playable on both console and PC.
• Unlimited Cloud Gaming: Including select games you already own.
• Online Multiplayer.
• In-Game Perks: For League of Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, Overwatch 2.
• PC Library: Featuring Hades, Cities: Skylines – Remastered, Stardew Valley, and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide.
• Rewards Program: Earn up to $25 per year (25,000 points).

While Essential claims to offer the “essence,” its limited game library keeps it at a distance from the full-fledged Game Pass experience.

Cloud Gaming Exits Beta

Microsoft also announced that Xbox Cloud Gaming has officially exited its beta phase. Ultimate subscribers will benefit from the best streaming quality and shortest wait times, but this “privilege” is locked behind the new $30 paywall.

Games Added Today

Microsoft dropped a massive list of games across the new plans:

Ultimate Exclusive (including Ubisoft+ Classics): The Assassin’s Creed franchise, Far Cry series, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Ghost Recon Breakpoint, and over 40 other Ubisoft titles.

Available on Premium & Ultimate: Diablo IV, Hogwarts Legacy, Age of Mythology: Retold, Frostpunk 2, Warcraft remastered series, and classic Fallout and Quake games.

Available on All Plans: Hades, Cities: Skylines Remastered, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide.

Criticisms and Lingering Questions

It’s widely believed that concerns over the long-term sustainability of Game Pass are behind this aggressive move. Since its launch in 2017, Microsoft has invested heavily in the service, but profitability may not be meeting internal expectations.

Hiking the price of the Ultimate plan by nearly 100% marks a significant departure from the promise of “delivering value to players.” At a time of global economic strain, expecting gamers to shell out $30 monthly severely damages the service’s accessibility.

Furthermore, delaying first-party Xbox titles for a year on the Premium plan shows a new strategy of tiered access even for Microsoft’s own games. The complete exclusion of Call of Duty titles from this one-year promise is another point of major contention.

Regional Pricing Uncertainty

Microsoft noted that pricing “may vary by region” based on “exchange rates and market conditions.” This creates additional uncertainty for players in countries with volatile economies, who may face even more unpredictable costs.

Plan Comparison Table

The Bottom Line

While Microsoft’s Game Pass restructure offers more options on paper, in reality, it locks players into a tiered system that feels less about choice and more about pushing subscriptions to the highest price point. The astronomical price hike for the Ultimate plan signals a shift from being a service “for everyone” to a premium product.

Players now have to ask themselves: Is $30 a month truly worth it? Microsoft’s aggressive pricing is a risky move that will test player loyalty and shape the future of game subscription services.

The changes are effective today, with existing subscribers being automatically migrated to their corresponding new plans.