Get ready for some shocking news, gamers! Xbox Game Pass Ultimate recently saw a massive 50% price increase in the US, jumping from $19.99 to an eye-watering $29.99 per month. That’s an additional $120 annually, making it much harder to keep enjoying what was once considered the ultimate gaming bargain. Ouch!
So, how can you combat this surge? Your best bet is to maximize your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership by stacking up to 36 months of subscription time before the new pricing fully takes hold. Of course, if the new price is a deal-breaker, you could always choose to cancel your subscription entirely – no judgment here!
Good news! Retailers like Amazon still offer one-month codes at the original $19.99 price, which now translates to a significant $10 discount compared to the new monthly fee.
Even better, you can grab three-month codes for $59.99 each, providing a substantial saving over the new $89.99 quarterly cost.
You can prepay for up to 12 months, totaling $719.88 in the US (or $239.96 annually). While dropping over $700 on a subscription might seem daunting, especially with today’s economy, understanding these figures reveals the potential savings if you opt to pay in advance.
To put it in perspective, three years of Game Pass Ultimate at the new $29.99 monthly rate would set you back a hefty $1,079.64.
By acting fast and stacking codes (up to $719.88), you could save a remarkable $359.76 – essentially getting nearly an extra year of service for free. However, many may understandably hesitate to invest such a large sum into a service that has seen repeated price increases.
Even if you’re only looking to secure your membership for the next year, paying $239.96 upfront offers a substantial saving compared to the new annual cost of $359.88.
New Xbox Game Pass Tiers and Pricing (Effective October 2025):
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: $29.99 per month
- Xbox Game Pass Premium: $14.99 per month
- Xbox Game Pass Essential: $9.99 per month
- PC Game Pass: $16.49 per month
These revised prices began on October 1st for new subscribers, with existing members seeing the change on November 4th. To sweeten the deal, Microsoft has added over 45 new games to the Game Pass library.
Interestingly, GameStop has committed to maintaining the original Game Pass pricing, and they’re not alone. Major US retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart are also still offering subscriptions at the previous, lower rates.