The recent, significant price hike for Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has ignited a strong backlash across the gaming community. With the monthly cost soaring by 50% from $19.99 to $29.99 in the U.S. – an additional $120 annually – fans are expressing a mix of intense anger, are canceling subscriptions, and are desperately attempting to ‘stack’ their existing memberships to lock in the old price.
A recent poll conducted among 10,000 readers revealed significant discontent: 45% stated they are no longer interested in subscribing to Game Pass at all, while just under 30% indicated they would continue with the Ultimate tier despite the increased cost.
To soften the blow of this price hike for the Ultimate tier, Microsoft announced several new benefits. They’ve pledged to increase day-one game releases to 75 per year and, for the first time, are integrating Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics. Additionally, subscribers will see upgrades to Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming quality.
Ubisoft+ Classics, typically priced at $7.99 per month, is now included in Ultimate. Furthermore, from November 18, Fortnite Crew, which costs $11.99 monthly, will be bundled with Ultimate, offering access to the Fortnite Battle Pass and 1,000 V-Bucks every month.
The enhancements to cloud gaming promise better performance, with Ultimate subscribers now exclusively benefiting from superior streaming quality and reduced wait times. Microsoft confirmed that Xbox Cloud Gaming has moved out of its beta phase, highlighting a commitment to delivering smoother and more responsive gameplay.
According to Microsoft, the new $30 monthly price for Game Pass Ultimate is a direct reflection of the expanded game catalog, the inclusion of new partner benefits, and the enhanced cloud gaming experience.
Xbox Game Pass Tier and Price Changes (Effective October 2025):
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: Now $29.99 per month, an increase from $19.99.
- Xbox Game Pass Premium: Remains at $14.99 per month, matching the previous Standard subscription price.
- Xbox Game Pass Essential: Stays at $9.99 per month, equivalent to the former Core subscription.
- PC Game Pass: Increased to $16.49 per month, up from $11.99.
These new prices were applied to new subscribers starting October 1, and will affect current subscribers from November 4. Coinciding with this announcement, Microsoft expanded the Game Pass library with over 45 new titles, notably including Hogwarts Legacy.
Despite these added perks, the Ultimate price increase has clearly prompted many Game Pass subscribers to reconsider their memberships. Discussions among readers reflect a significant number who have decided to cancel their subscriptions.
For instance, one commenter, Hertzwin, highlighted that the new annual cost of Ultimate ($360) is equivalent to purchasing five full-priced $70 games. They noted, "Looking at the Microsoft Studios releases, I don’t see five games in any year I’d want to play. There is no savings here anymore for an average gamer."
"$30/month is insane," another user, DippinDoansy, exclaimed. "No way I’m keeping Game Pass now. I’ve already been moving more and more towards Steam. This is just the final nail in the coffin for me."
"I have been an Xbox defender since the beginning, but this officially crosses the line," commented shoeflavored1313. "Can’t believe I’m finally bailing on Game Pass, but today’s that day. I just cancelled. I’ll just go back to buying games."
In contrast, RealFrowns argued that Ultimate still provided good value, stating, "By the end of this year, I will have played well over $500 worth of day one additions to Game Pass." They further elaborated, "So, even at $360 per year, I would still be saving money with Game Pass, especially if you take into account that I’d still need to subscribe to Core so my kids can play Xbox online. So, it’s only a difference of $240 per year that I’m paying to play those $500 games." However, they also acknowledged, "That said, the gap between what I’m playing and what I’m paying for gets smaller and smaller, which makes it quite a bit less appealing."
Another IGN reader, Link3200, found value in the new Ultimate perks. They commented, "My initial thought was ouch! $30, but if it includes Fortnite Crew, which I’m already paying for… Then this isn’t so bad. I can cancel Fortnite Crew, since it will come with Game Pass."
Interestingly, even GameStop initially reacted, later confirming they would continue to sell Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at the pre-hike price of $19.99 per month, both in-store and online, seemingly challenging Microsoft’s official price adjustment.
In a related development, many Xbox enthusiasts engaged in "subscription stacking" – a frantic effort to purchase and redeem multiple months of Game Pass Ultimate at the old price. This allowed existing subscribers to extend their memberships up to the 36-month limit before the price change took full effect at various retailers.
Microsoft likely anticipated such a strong reaction, having undoubtedly crunched the numbers and factored potential cancellations into their projections before implementing the price increase. It’s also noteworthy that Game Pass recently achieved a new annual revenue record of nearly $5 billion, bolstered by significant game launches like The Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Remastered, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
Ultimately, these changes mean Xbox fans are facing a more expensive gaming landscape. Just last month, Microsoft increased the price of Xbox consoles in the U.S., citing "changes in the macroeconomic environment." The company also raised eyebrows with its pricing for upcoming handhelds, setting the ROG Xbox Ally X at $999.99 and the ROG Xbox Ally at $599.99. However, there was a positive note as Microsoft reversed its decision to price some games at $80 for the upcoming holiday season.
(Please note: This article reflects community reactions and pricing details as of October 2025.)