Latest Xbox Game Pass Plans (as of October 2025)
Xbox has revamped its Game Pass subscription tiers effective October 1, 2025, introducing new plans called Essential, Premium, and Ultimate. These replace or evolve from previous tiers (Core becomes Essential, Standard becomes Premium, and Ultimate gets upgrades). Below is a breakdown of each plan, including pricing (in USD), key features, and inclusions.
| Plan | Price (USD/month) | Games Access | Key Features & Inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $9.99 | 50+ curated games (e.g., Hades, Stardew Valley, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide) on console, PC, and cloud | – Unlimited cloud gaming – Online multiplayer – In-game benefits (e.g., for League of Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, Overwatch 2) – Rewards: Up to $25/year in Xbox Store points (25k points globally), points on game/add-on purchases |
| Premium | $14.99 | 200+ games (e.g., Minecraft, Forza Horizon 5, Grand Theft Auto V, Diablo IV, Hogwarts Legacy) on console, PC, and cloud; new Xbox-published games within 1 year of launch (excludes Call of Duty) | – Unlimited cloud gaming (including select owned games) – In-game benefits (e.g., for League of Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, Rainbow Six Siege) – Rewards: Up to $50/year in Xbox Store points (50k points globally), 2x points on game/add-on purchases, 5% back on select library titles |
| Ultimate | $29.99 | 400+ games on console, PC, and cloud; 75+ day-one releases per year | – EA Play membership – In-game benefits (e.g., for Riot Games titles) – Fortnite Crew (starting Nov 18: monthly Battle Pass + 1,000 V-Bucks, $11.99 value) – Ubisoft+ Classics ($7.99 value: curated Ubisoft games) – Enhanced cloud gaming (up to 1440p, out of beta; stream your own collection) – Rewards: Up to $100/year in Xbox Store points (100k points globally), 4x points on game/add-on purchases, 10% back on select library titles, up to 20% off select Game Pass games |
Summary Analysis of the New Plans
The revamp shifts Game Pass toward a more tiered, value-driven model, emphasizing cloud gaming across all plans while justifying Ultimate’s 50% price hike (from $19.99) with premium perks like day-one access, bundled subscriptions (Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics adding ~$20/month value), and superior rewards. Essential serves as an affordable entry point for casual players focused on core multiplayer and a slim library, ideal for budget-conscious users or those testing the service—it’s essentially the evolved Core plan without major changes. Premium strikes a balance for mid-tier gamers wanting broader access without day-one hype, maintaining its $14.99 price while gaining cloud expansions, making it the best “bang for buck” for most subscribers who don’t need everything Ultimate offers. Overall, the changes boost accessibility (e.g., cloud for all) but risk alienating Ultimate loyalists due to the steep increase; however, the added exclusives and rewards could retain high-spenders by enhancing perceived value in a competitive streaming landscape. Existing subscribers transition automatically without immediate price jumps except for Ultimate.