In the US, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $22.99 a month following Xbox’s April 21, 2026 price change. The most reliable ways to spend less are to check for an offer on your own account, use eligible gift-card balance acquired below face value or through Rewards, or choose a lower tier if its features meet your needs. Prices and eligibility vary by region, so check your account’s checkout screen before paying.
What Game Pass Ultimate costs in 2026
Xbox announced that the US monthly price of Game Pass Ultimate fell from $29.99 to $22.99 on April 21, 2026. The same announcement set US PC Game Pass at $13.99 per month, down from $16.49. Xbox says prices may vary by region; use the live plan page and your checkout screen for the price applicable to your market and account. Xbox’s April 21 price and plan update
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Ultimate includes hundreds of games on Xbox console and PC, online multiplayer on console, unlimited Xbox Cloud Gaming, in-game benefits, and major day-one releases. There is one notable change for future releases: Xbox says Call of Duty games released from 2026 onward will not join Ultimate or PC Game Pass at launch, but will arrive during the following holiday season, about a year later. Call of Duty titles already in the catalog remain available. Consider whether that release timing matters to you before paying for Ultimate.
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Check your account for a current offer
Offers may be account-specific. No official current offer page establishes who qualifies for a win-back or retention price, so do not assume a reported deal applies to everyone. Sign in to your Microsoft account, inspect the offer actually shown, and read its renewal price, duration, and eligibility terms before accepting.
#1 Best Overall
- GAME PASS ULTIMATE: Play new games on day one, and enjoy hundreds of high-quality games on console, PC, and cloud. Game Pass Ultimate also includes online console multiplayer, EA Play, and other great member benefits.
- SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: From fast-paced action and adventure to timeless classics, family-friendly games, innovative indie titles, brain-teasing puzzles, immersive roleplaying adventures, and intense shooters. Dive into a world where every gamer can find their next favorite game.
- NEW GAMES ON DAY ONE: Enjoy incredible new games on day one from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, Activision Blizzard, and more. Play The Outer Worlds 2, NINJA GAIDEN 4, and High on Life 2 as soon as they are released.
- ONLINE CONSOLE MULTIPLAYER: Tap into the heart of the Xbox community and join millions of players ready to play together. Online console multiplayer is included with Game Pass Ultimate.
- EA PLAY MEMBERSHIP INCLUDED: Jump into Battlefield, STAR WARS, and other great game franchises with EA Play. Included at no extra cost, members get access to a collection of EA’s best-loved games, in-game rewards, and trials of select new games.
Pay with eligible gift-card balance
Microsoft Support says redeemed Microsoft account gift-card funds can be used to purchase an Xbox-related subscription. This changes how you pay, not the subscription’s price: it saves money only if you obtained the balance for less than face value, or earned it through a program such as Microsoft Rewards. Confirm that the balance, account region, and subscription are eligible under the current terms. Microsoft Support: redeeming a gift card or code
Check Microsoft Rewards in your account
Microsoft’s Rewards page lists Microsoft Gift Cards in $1.25, $5, $10, $25, and custom amounts, but available redemptions and point costs can change by account and region. Promotional gift-card balance may need to be spent within 90 days of deposit, and eligible purchases vary. Check the live redemption screen and program rules before treating points as a particular dollar saving; Rewards points have no cash value and are redeemable only for rewards offered through the program. Microsoft Rewards gift-card redemption page · Microsoft Rewards terms and rules
Rank #2
- DISCOVER 50+ GAMES — Explore a curated library of more than 50 games playable across XBOX consoles, PC, and supported devices, with new favorites ready to discover.
- PLAY ACROSS YOUR FAVORITE DEVICES — Enjoy included games across supported XBOX consoles, PC, and other compatible devices for more ways to play wherever you are.
- PLAY TOGETHER ONLINE — Connect with friends and communities with online console multiplayer included with XBOX Game Pass Essential.
- STREAM WITH XBOX CLOUD GAMING — Enjoy up to 5 hours of cloud playtime per month and stream supported games to compatible devices with XBOX Cloud Gaming.
- EARN REWARDS WHILE YOU PLAY — Earn Rewards points by playing games, completing eligible activities, and shopping in the Store with your XBOX Game Pass membership.
Compare tiers against how you play
If Ultimate’s full bundle is more than you use, compare the current plan options—Ultimate, Premium, Essential, and PC Game Pass—on Xbox’s live plan page. Check your region’s monthly price alongside device access, console multiplayer, cloud gaming, catalog, new-release timing, and benefits you actually use. The available official price announcement does not establish a complete current price and feature comparison for every tier, so verify the live details rather than relying on outdated prices. Xbox Game Pass plans
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Xbox advertises discounts of up to 50% on select games for Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members, and discounts of up to 20% on select Game Pass catalog titles for specified plans. These discounts apply to game purchases, not the monthly Game Pass charge. They use Microsoft Store prices, cannot be combined with other offers or redeemed for cash, exclude titles within 30 days of launch, and may exclude other titles. Check the offer terms and the game’s current price before buying. Xbox Game Pass deals and recurring-billing information
Rank #3
- GAME PASS ULTIMATE: Play new games on day one, and enjoy hundreds of high-quality games on console, PC, and cloud. Game Pass Ultimate also includes online console multiplayer, EA Play, and other great member benefits.
- SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: From fast-paced action and adventure to timeless classics, family-friendly games, innovative indie titles, brain-teasing puzzles, immersive roleplaying adventures, and intense shooters. Dive into a world where every gamer can find their next favorite game.
- NEW GAMES ON DAY ONE: Enjoy incredible new games on day one from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, Activision Blizzard, and more. Play The Outer Worlds 2, NINJA GAIDEN 4, and High on Life 2 as soon as they are released.
- ONLINE CONSOLE MULTIPLAYER: Tap into the heart of the Xbox community and join millions of players ready to play together. Online console multiplayer is included with Game Pass Ultimate.
- EA PLAY MEMBERSHIP INCLUDED: Jump into Battlefield, STAR WARS, and other great game franchises with EA Play. Included at no extra cost, members get access to a collection of EA’s best-loved games, in-game rewards, and trials of select new games.
Turn off renewal if you do not want another charge
Recurring billing is on by default. If you only want the current subscription period, switch recurring billing off through your Microsoft account or console and confirm the setting. Xbox also describes a one-time-per-account, per-subscription refund right for the most recent recurring charge when cancellation is made within 30 days after payment; check the official page for eligibility and the support process. Xbox Game Pass deals and recurring-billing information
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Expired offer: the 2026 College Offer
Microsoft’s US College Offer provided eligible college students a year of Ultimate with the purchase of a qualifying Windows 11 PC, but the offer ended August 31, 2026. Do not count on it being available or assume a replacement exists unless Microsoft announces and publishes new terms. Microsoft’s College Offer announcement
Quick Recap
Best Value
- DISCOVER 50+ GAMES — Explore a curated library of more than 50 games playable across XBOX consoles, PC, and supported devices, with new favorites ready to discover.
- PLAY ACROSS YOUR FAVORITE DEVICES — Enjoy included games across supported XBOX consoles, PC, and other compatible devices for more ways to play wherever you are.
- PLAY TOGETHER ONLINE — Connect with friends and communities with online console multiplayer included with XBOX Game Pass Essential.
- STREAM WITH XBOX CLOUD GAMING — Enjoy up to 5 hours of cloud playtime per month and stream supported games to compatible devices with XBOX Cloud Gaming.
- EARN REWARDS WHILE YOU PLAY — Earn Rewards points by playing games, completing eligible activities, and shopping in the Store with your XBOX Game Pass membership.
Rank #4
- THE PERFECT GAMING GIFT — Buy an XBOX Gift Card for yourself or a friend and let them choose the games, add‑ons, subscriptions, and accessories they want most.
- USE FOR GAMES & CONTENT — Redeem for thousands of digital XBOX games, from backward compatible classics to the latest new releases, plus DLC and in‑game currency.
- GAME PASS READY — Apply your balance toward XBOX Game Pass Ultimate to play new titles on day one* and access a library of hundreds of high‑quality console games.
- PRE‑ORDER & PRE‑INSTALL GAMES — Use your balance to pre‑order and pre‑download upcoming titles so you’re ready to play the moment they launch.
- NO FEES OR EXPIRATION — XBOX Gift Cards never expire and have no service fees, so your balance is ready whenever you are.
Avoid risky shortcuts
- Do not assume a discount reported by another customer is available to your account; confirm the actual offer and renewal terms yourself.
- A gift card at face value is not a discount. Count only the real amount you paid or the rewards balance you can use, and account for restrictions or expiry.
- Do not rely on region-locked codes, VPNs to bypass regional prices, or conversion ratios for other subscriptions. Current official terms establishing those conversion rules were not available here; check Xbox’s current terms before considering any conversion.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.




