Xbox Game Pass guide: Which option is right for you?

Microsoft has hit the ball out of the park with its Game Pass subscription services, at least initially. Now that the company has shuffled around the subscriptions and upped pricing, choosing between the console or PC versions of Game Pass vs Ultimate can be complicated. To help you decide, we compiled this comprehensive guide to all Xbox Game Pass subscriptions.

What is Xbox Game Pass?

At first glance, all Xbox Game Pass subscription tiers may seem to offer the same thing. And in many ways, they do. All of them are subscription services that unlock a variety of AAA and indie games for one monthly fee. The major differences are which games are included, where you can play these games, and what extra features are included.

It’s also worth remembering that there are four services here: Xbox Game Pass Core, Xbox Game Pass Standard, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Here’s a quick summary of each, although we’ll go into more detail below.

• Xbox Game Pass Core: This replaces Xbox Live Gold, enabling online play on consoles and access to a small library of about 25 games.
• Xbox Game Pass Standard: The console version unlocks a much larger catalog of console games and online play, but does not include day-one access to new games.
• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: The top-tier service includes online multiplayer on consoles, both the console and PC game catalogs, plus a few extras like EA Play and Xbox Cloud Gaming.
• PC Game Pass: This unlocks a large catalog of PC games, plus EA Play titles and day-one access to new games.

There’s also an Xbox Game Pass Console plan for legacy subscribers, but this will be phased out shortly.

What features do Xbox Game Pass/Ultimate have?

The core feature for all Game Pass subscriptions is access to a library of games at one monthly price. While subscribed, you can download and play games from over 100 fantastic titles on your PC, mobile device, or Xbox console (depending on the subscription). For the Standard and PC version of Xbox Game Pass, that’s precisely what you’re paying for.

If you just want to play multiplayer games online, there’s a slightly cheaper plan called Xbox Game Pass Core, which replaced Xbox Live Gold in September 2023. This subscription costs $9.99/month or $74.99/year. Granted, you no longer need a subscription to play free-to-play games online, including heavy-hitters like PUBG, Fortnite, and Halo: Infinite.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is on the other side of the spectrum. The premium subscription bundles Xbox Game Pass Console, PC Game Pass, online multiplayer, and Xbox Cloud Gaming (more on this later) into a single service.

Microsoft also added EA Play to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass in 2020, which is essentially an entire extra catalog of games. EA’s library includes many sports titles, games from the Star Wars franchise, and more. It isn’t quite as full-featured as EA Play Pro, but it’s still a fantastic perk.

Now that Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard is official, the publisher’s wide swathe of titles can be included in the service. This process has been slow, with the first title, Diablo 4, hitting Game Pass on March 2024. Nevertheless, this is one reason to consider enrolling in the program for Blizzard fans.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also includes a few other perks for popular games, like unlocking the full roster of champions in League of Legends. The service also regularly offers add-ons with skins and other content for games like Sea of Thieves, FIFA, and more. Other perks include extended free trials of other services, such as Apple Music, Crunchyroll, or Discord Nitro.

Another very important difference is day-one access to new first-party games. After the July 2024 changes, only Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass will include access to brand-new games on the day they’re released. Xbox Game Pass Standard subscribers may need to wait weeks or months for access.

How much does Xbox Game Pass/Ultimate cost?

Xbox splits its four subscription tiers across two platforms, giving console gamers and PC gamers their own incentives. Here’s a breakdown of pricing for all four Xbox Game Pass subscriptions:

• Xbox Game Pass Core: $9.99 a month or $74.99/year.
• Xbox Game Pass Standard: $14.99/month.
• Xbox Game Pass PC: $11.99/month.
• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: $19.99/month.

Regarding pricing, most subscription plans are cheaper than a standard subscription for the best streaming services. The most basic plan is Xbox Game Pass Core, which runs just $9.99/month. It isn’t as fully featured as the other versions of Game Pass, and although you can buy a full year in advance, the discount isn’t as good as it once was at $74.99.

PC Game Pass is $11.99/month, and obviously, it targets an entirely different audience. This is a fantastic deal for PC-only gamers, although there are no discounts for 3, 6, or 12-month subscription cards unless you buy them from third-party retailers, which comes with certain risks. Still, this is excellent value. You’re getting 100+ games, which includes all first-party games from Microsoft and tons of third-party hits, the entire EA Play library, and indie darlings (more on this in the next section). However, note that the game library is different from the console library.

Speaking of which, Xbox Game Pass Standard is a bit pricier at $14.99/month. It includes many great console games, but you no longer gain access to day-one releases. For that reason, it’s the worst value of any of the Xbox Game Pass subscriptions.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the most premium, costing $19.99/month. At that price, it’s no longer the incredible deal it was a few years ago, and the only way you’re getting good value is by playing console games online and PC games occasionally.

Upgrading to Ultimate doesn’t add much value for pure PC gamers. Unless you want to try cloud gaming on your PC, iOS, or Android device or want access to the full roster of champions in League of Legends, the extra features aren’t very enticing for an extra $8 a month.

Xbox Game Pass games: What titles are included?

There is a lot of confusion about the Xbox Game Pass game library. In theory, the list of games for Xbox Game Pass vs Ultimate is more or less the same. However, if you check the official list online, it combines four separate libraries: PC titles, console titles, cloud gaming titles, and EA Play titles.

Of course, if you subscribe to Ultimate, you gain instant access to all these. Those who opt for the cheaper Game Pass subscriptions might not get the full picture. To check each category, enable the filter for console, PC, or cloud-enabled games. Also, remember that the console titles include EA Play games, which are not included with a standard Game Pass subscription.

Each library constantly shifts, with new games added and old ones removed every month. Microsoft announces removals well in advance, so you have plenty of time to try or finish them. There are discounts to buy games leaving Game Pass, so watch for those if you want to keep playing.

How is cloud gaming on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?

Without a doubt, the biggest difference between the cheaper Xbox Game Pass subscriptions and Game Pass Ultimate is Xbox Cloud Gaming (formerly called Project xCloud). Although it’s still technically in beta, it allows you to play AAA games from the comfort of your mobile device, PC, or even your Steam Deck. Currently, the only way to access Microsoft’s game streaming is with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

The streaming tech itself isn’t as impressive as GeForce Now (it’s limited to 720p on mobile and 1080p on PC for now), but it includes hundreds of games out of the box, giving it a huge lead. The upgrade to Xbox Series X hardware in the cloud means it will eventually surpass most competitors, at least in raw power. Streaming performance, however, is still a bit choppy as of 2024.

Cloud gaming is poised to revolutionize how we consume games, and if you want to be on the cutting edge, you’ll need to upgrade to Ultimate. It’s also flexible, allowing you to play on your mobile device with a standard Xbox controller or grab a dedicated mobile controller like the Razer Kishi Xbox Edition for even more portability. Some games support touch controls, so you can play on your phone without any accessories.

It’s worth noting that Microsoft recently added support for all titles in the PC Game Pass to GeForce Now, so even if you don’t pay for Ultimate, you can still play in the cloud. Granted, if you want to play for more than an hour, you’ll need to pay an additional subscription fee.

Xbox Game Pass vs Ultimate: Which is best?

When comparing Xbox Game Pass vs Ultimate, the primary consideration is where you want to game.

Game Pass Ultimate is a better choice if you game on a console. The added value of day-one games is a big deal. If you just want to play console games online, Xbox Game Pass Core and Standard may work out to be a better value. However, the price increase on the Ultimate subscription in 2024 makes it much harder to recommend for anyone on a tight budget.

The situation shifts when it comes to pure PC gamers. Most of the added benefits of Ultimate (namely EA Play and online multiplayer) are either included or irrelevant for PC gamers, so there isn’t much reason to upgrade. it’s also $7 cheaper per month, a significant amount. That said, you can only access Xbox Cloud Gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which might tip the scales for fans of emerging game streaming tech (unless you’re already using GeForce Now).

The other big deciding factor is cloud gaming on your phone or your Samsung smart TV. Playing Xbox games on your phone or via a TV without a console is just really cool, and it will only get better as time goes on. Cloud games are also taken from the console library, so it’s the only way to play console-only games that aren’t included in PC Game Pass.