Microsoft has introduced three new Xbox Game Pass tiers: Essential, Premium, and Ultimate. The changes apply across console, PC, and cloud, and all current subscribers will be moved into the updated plans automatically.
Essential is priced at $9.99 per month. It replaces the old Core plan and gives players a library of more than 50 games including Hades, Cities: Skylines – Remastered, and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. The plan also includes online multiplayer, unlimited cloud streaming, in-game perks, and Rewards capped at $25 per year. Essential members earn 1× points on purchases, equal to 10 points per dollar spent.
Premium costs $14.99 per month and expands the library to more than 200 titles. Games can be played across console, PC, and cloud. Notable additions include Diablo IV, Hogwarts Legacy, and Grand Theft Auto V. Premium also provides faster cloud performance, in-game bonuses for supported titles, and access to Xbox-published games within a year of release. Rewards are worth up to $50 per year, with 2× points on purchases and about 5 percent cashback on eligible Game Pass titles.
Ultimate now costs $29.99 per month, a 50 percent increase. Microsoft says this is the biggest upgrade the plan has received. The catalog grows to more than 400 games with over 75 day-one releases a year. Confirmed titles include Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Ninja Gaiden 4, High on Life 2, and The Outer Worlds 2. Starting November 18, Ultimate will include Fortnite Crew, normally $11.99 per month, and Ubisoft+ Classics, valued at $7.99 per month. Other features include Xbox Cloud Gaming up to 1440p with shorter wait times, and expanded Rewards up to $100 annually with 4× points on purchases and up to 10 percent back on select games and add-ons.
Community response has been divided. Some players praised the addition of Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics, saying the value justifies the higher cost. Others criticized the $30 monthly price and said they plan to cancel. You can follow this link to know more about what games are included in each tier.
In other news, the ROG Xbox Ally series consoles will soon be available to buy in the US, Europe and other regions. These Windows 11-based consoles come with special optimization, a unique Xbox console interface and upgraded hardware, making them the unofficial Xbox handheld that fans have been asking for a while.
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