Microsoft has announced that Xbox Game Pass is about to get a lot more expensive with three reworked subscription tiers.
Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service that gives both Xbox and PC players access to a massive library of games. To keep things fresh, new titles are constantly being added while other games are removed.
Before today, the ‘Core’ tier of Xbox Game Pass gave players access to a library of 25 games and allowed them to use various online features for £6.99 a month. The standard tier of Xbox Game Pass cost subscribers £9.99 per month and included hundreds of different titles, while the Ultimate tier would have set you back £14.99 in exchange for playing a number of big Day One releases.
However Microsoft has confirmed a new pricing system.
your gaming's about to get even better with 3 updated Xbox Game Pass plans!
play your way with the right one for you: https://t.co/6pRXMXa1Uj pic.twitter.com/BPLsmCoFKE— Xbox Game Pass (@XboxGamePass) October 1, 2025
Essential is now the cheapest tier of Xbox Game Pass and will cost you £9.99 a month. For that, you get access to a library of more than 50 games that can be played across PC and console. The new Premium tier is £14.99 and includes a library of 200+ games and access to all new Xbox published games within a year of them launching. Ultimate is now £29.99 a month and is the only tier of Xbox Game Pass that will let you play Day One releases.
“Our goal with Game Pass has been clear: deliver unmatched value, benefits, and a deep library of games for our players,” explained a blog post from Microsoft. “We know not everyone wants the same thing in their Xbox experience, so we’re evolving Game Pass to offer more flexibility, choice, and value to all players.”
