Xbox Game Pass is set to receive major changes to its pricing and tiers, including a low-price tier with ads.
Update: Microsoft has confirmed the rumored changes to Game Pass, including the changes to the naming convention of tiers. The new tiers are called Essential, Premium, and Ultimate. Read ahead for further details.
Updated Xbox Game Pass Tiers Detailed
Details regarding the updated Xbox Game Pass subscription tiers can be seen below.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
- Biggest upgrade yet, designed for players who want everything.
- Over 75 day-one releases annually, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, High on Life 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, The Outer Worlds 2.
- Access to 400+ games across console, PC, and cloud (45+ new games added today).
- Includes EA Play benefits.
- Fortnite Crew ($11.99/month value) added (Battle Pass, 1,000 V-Bucks/month, more).
- Ubisoft+ Classics (~$15.98/month value) added (includes Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown).
- Cloud gaming upgraded:
- Streaming quality up to 1440p.
- Xbox Cloud Gaming officially out of “Beta.”
- Shortest wait times for Ultimate users.
- “Stream your own game” collection expanding.
- Rewards with Xbox:
- Earn up to $100/year (100k points).
- 4x points on game/add-on purchases.
- 10% back in points on select Game Pass titles/add-ons.
- Up to 20% off select Game Pass games.
- $29.99/month.
Xbox Game Pass Premium
- Mid-tier option focused on flexibility and value.
- Access to 200+ games across console, PC, and cloud.
- 40+ new games added today, including Diablo IV and Hogwarts Legacy.
- Includes major hits (Minecraft, GTA V, Forza Horizon 5).
- New Xbox-published titles included within a year of launch (except Call of Duty).
- Unlimited cloud gaming, including select owned titles.
- In-game perks in League of Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, Rainbow Six Siege X.
- Rewards with Xbox:
- Earn up to $50/year (50k points).
- 2x points on purchases.
- 5% back on select Game Pass titles/add-ons.
- Still $14.99/month.
Xbox Game Pass Essential
- Entry-level tier for newcomers to Xbox.
- Access to 50+ curated games on console and PC.
- Unlimited cloud gaming included (also supports select owned games).
- Featured games: Hades, Stardew Valley, Cities: Skylines – Remastered, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide.
- Includes online multiplayer and in-game perks (League of Legends, Overwatch 2, Call of Duty: Warzone).
- Rewards with Xbox:
- Earn up to $25/year (25k points).
- Points on purchases of games/add-ons.
- $9.99/month.
Original Story: According to Reset Era moderator Slayven, Microsoft is preparing sweeping changes to Xbox Game Pass that could significantly reshape the subscription service. While none of these details are officially confirmed, his sources suggests that Microsoft is looking to make changes to the naming convention of Game Pass tiers, after which they would more closely resemble PlayStation Plus tiers. Furthermore, as per the rumor, Xbox Game Pass will also introduce new monetization models such as a low-price tier with ads.
One of the biggest claimed changes is the elimination of PC Game Pass as a standalone product. Instead, it will be merged into a new structure centered around Game Pass Standard and Game Pass Core. However, only Game Pass Ultimate will continue to offer access to day one releases, meaning subscribers to Standard or Core tiers will allegedly lose one of the service’s biggest selling points.
Prices are also expected to rise, with Game Pass Ultimate rumored to climb to 25 US Dollars per month, though this increase may be delayed until 2026. To soften the blow, cloud streaming will reportedly become available across all tiers, allowing even lower-tier subscribers to take advantage of Microsoft’s streaming infrastructure.
The restructuring may also bring potential rebranding of subscription names. Similar to how Sony restructured PlayStation Plus into “Essential,” “Extra,” and “Premium” tiers back in 2022, Microsoft may rename its tiers in a comparable style , with Game Pass Core possibly becoming Game Pass Essential and Game Pass Standard becoming Game Pass Premium.
According to the Reset Era moderator’s sources, Microsoft will be experimenting with cheaper, ad-supported tiers in 2026. These would include a streaming-only version of Game Pass, likely extremely low-cost or even free, but with strict limitations such as time-based access and forced ads. This would be the first time Microsoft introduces an ad-supported subscription plan, potentially opening the service to a wider audience and tapping into a new revenue stream.
