Xbox Game Pass Ultimate just got a lot more expensive. Microsoft raised the price to $29.99 per month in the US, up from $19.99—a 50% jump that takes effect immediately for new subscribers and November 4 for existing ones. In the UK, the increase mirrors the US hike, climbing from £14.99 to £22.99 monthly. The move sparked immediate backlash, but Microsoft sweetened the deal with some genuinely valuable additions that might soften the blow.
Key Takeaways
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate rises to $29.99/month in the US, £22.99 in the UK—a 50% and 53% increase respectively
- New tiered structure: Essential ($9.99), Premium ($14.99), and Ultimate ($29.99) replaces previous Core/Standard naming
- Ultimate now bundles Ubisoft+ Classics with dozens of back catalog games
- Fortnite Crew ($11.99/month value) joins Ultimate starting November 18, including Battle Pass and 1,000 V-Bucks monthly
- Upgraded Rewards program offers up to $100 annually in Store value for Ultimate members
What’s Actually New in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
The headline price hike masks a genuine content expansion. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now includes Ubisoft+ Classics, a curated selection of older Ubisoft games spanning decades of the publisher’s back catalog. That’s not a token addition—it’s a meaningful library boost that alone would cost subscribers a separate subscription elsewhere. Starting November 18, Ultimate also bundles Fortnite Crew, which normally runs $11.99 monthly and includes the current Battle Pass, 1,000 V-Bucks every month, and exclusive cosmetics. For players already spending money on Fortnite, this essentially hands them free value.
Microsoft restructured Game Pass into three tiers to clarify positioning. Essential ($9.99/month) is the entry point with a curated game library and online multiplayer. Premium ($14.99/month) sits in the middle with new Xbox releases available within a year of launch. Ultimate ($29.99/month) is the full package: the broadest catalog, Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew, unlimited cloud gaming, and enhanced Rewards. The naming shift from Core/Standard to Essential/Premium signals clearer value differentiation, though the price gap between Essential and Ultimate remains steep.
The Rewards Sweetener That Actually Matters
Microsoft doubled down on perks beyond bundled services. Ultimate members now earn up to $100 annually in Microsoft Store value through the upgraded Rewards program. That translates to 4x points on game and add-on purchases, 10% cashback on select Game Pass titles and add-ons, and discounts up to 20–30% off specific Game Pass games. For heavy players, this compounds quickly—especially if you regularly buy cosmetics or season passes in Game Pass titles.
The Rewards structure attempts to convert Ultimate’s $30 monthly cost into a longer-term value proposition. If you’re already buying games and add-ons, the multiplier effects and discounts create genuine savings. A player spending $50 monthly on in-game purchases could recoup $20 of their subscription cost through Rewards alone. That math shifts perception, though it requires active engagement rather than passive consumption.
How Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Compares to Its Rivals
PlayStation Plus Premium costs $17.99/month in the US and includes a back catalog of PS4 and PS5 games, cloud saves, and streaming. At $29.99, Ultimate undercuts PlayStation’s premium tier by positioning itself as a broader ecosystem play—you’re not just buying games, you’re buying into Game Pass, Ubisoft+, and Fortnite integration simultaneously. PC Game Pass, meanwhile, jumped from $11.99 to $16.49 monthly, making the $29.99 Ultimate tier a $13.50 premium for console and cloud access beyond PC.
Nintendo Switch Online+ Expansion Pack costs $49.99 annually (about $4.17/month) but offers far fewer new releases and no day-one AAA titles. Game Pass Ultimate’s value proposition depends entirely on whether you value that breadth. Casual players might balk at the price. Subscribers who play new releases, use cloud gaming, and chase Fortnite cosmetics will find the bundled perks harder to dismiss.
Is the Price Hike Justified?
The Fortnite Crew inclusion alone accounts for $11.99 of the new $29.99 price, and Ubisoft+ Classics adds another layer of catalog depth. Microsoft’s math is defensible: you’re not paying $30 for Game Pass anymore—you’re paying $30 for a bundled ecosystem. Whether that feels fair depends on your usage. If you ignore Fortnite cosmetics and never touch Ubisoft back catalog games, the hike stings. If you’re already a Fortnite player or curious about classic Splinter Cell, Assassin’s Creed, or Prince of Persia titles, the value calculus improves.
This is Microsoft’s second major price increase for Ultimate in over a year, which signals confidence in the service’s stickiness—or desperation to offset Game Pass’s profitability challenges. Either way, the additions feel substantive rather than cosmetic. The real test is subscriber retention through November and beyond.
Does Xbox Game Pass Ultimate include Fortnite Crew automatically?
Starting November 18, yes—Fortnite Crew ($11.99/month value) comes bundled with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at no extra cost. You get the current Battle Pass, 1,000 V-Bucks monthly, and exclusive cosmetics as part of your $29.99 subscription.
How much does PC Game Pass cost now?
PC Game Pass increased to $16.49/month in the US, up from $11.99. That’s a $4.50 monthly jump. If you want console, cloud, and PC access together, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at $29.99 includes all three.
What’s the difference between Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Premium?
Premium ($14.99/month) gives you new Xbox releases within a year of launch and a curated library, but no Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew, or cloud gaming. Ultimate ($29.99/month) includes all of that plus the expanded catalog and partner benefits. Premium is for players who want new releases without paying Ultimate’s full premium.
The $29.99 price tag stings, but Microsoft’s bundling strategy—Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew, and upgraded Rewards—transforms Ultimate from a pure subscription into a compound value play. For players already embedded in Xbox‘s ecosystem, the additions justify the hike. For everyone else, the question is whether you’ll actually use Fortnite cosmetics and retro Ubisoft games, or if you’re just paying more for the same service.
Where to Buy
Asus ROG Xbox Ally X | Microsoft Xbox Series S | Microsoft Xbox Series X | Microsoft Xbox Series X Digital Edition | ASUS ROG Xbox Ally
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: T3
