Xbox Game Pass is no longer one subscription with a simple upgrade path. Since Microsoft restructured it in October 2025, there are four separate plans, and in April 2026 Microsoft lowered the prices of the two top tiers. Here is what each plan gives you today and how to choose.
The four tiers at a glance
| Tier | US price | Day-one Xbox games | Cloud gaming | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $9.99/mo | No | Yes | Console online multiplayer plus a small library |
| Premium | $14.99/mo | No (usually within about a year) | Yes | Console players happy to wait for new releases |
| PC Game Pass | $13.99/mo | Yes | No | PC-only players |
| Ultimate | $22.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Console + PC players who want everything |
Essential
Essential replaced Game Pass Core. It includes online multiplayer on console, a curated catalogue of around 50 games and cloud gaming. It does not get new releases on any guaranteed timeline. Choose it if you mainly need online play for games you already own.
Premium
Premium replaced the old Standard tier and has a much larger library of 200-plus games, plus online multiplayer and cloud gaming. Microsoft said Xbox-published games would join Premium within about a year of launch; for example, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle arrived on Premium in December 2025 and Avowed in February 2026. Premium does not include EA Play, and new Call of Duty games are excluded.
PC Game Pass
For PC-only players, PC Game Pass is the value pick at $13.99 a month. It gets Xbox first-party games on launch day and includes EA Play on PC. It does not include cloud gaming or console access.
Ultimate
Ultimate is the everything plan: day-one first-party games on console and PC, the largest catalogue, EA Play, cloud gaming, and extras such as Ubisoft+ Classics and Fortnite Crew. After the April 2026 change it costs $22.99 a month in the US, down from $29.99.
The Call of Duty change
Alongside the April 2026 price cut, Microsoft said future Call of Duty games will no longer arrive on Game Pass at launch; they are expected to join roughly a year later. Existing Call of Duty games in the catalogue are not affected, and other Xbox first-party games still launch day one on Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Which tier should you choose?
- PC only: PC Game Pass.
- Console, want new games on launch day: Ultimate.
- Console, casual pace: Premium.
- Console, only need online play: Essential.
- Play a few hours a month: buying the odd game outright may be cheaper than any plan.
Before you subscribe
Games join and leave Game Pass regularly, and prices vary by region. Check the plan comparison on xbox.com and the individual game’s Store page, which shows which tiers include it. If you are upgrading an existing subscription, Microsoft may convert remaining time at a set ratio — the conversion details appear before you confirm.
