The Daily Populous Friday October 3rd, 2025 evening edition
Authored by shacknews.com and submitted by Slashered

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gets $10 price increase The other two Game Pass tiers have been renamed to Essential and Premium.

Microsoft has announced yet another price increase to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, this one coming with a light overhaul of the entire service. The two cheaper tiers of Game Pass have been rebranded to Essential and Premium, and Ultimate is getting some new benefits to coincide with its price hike.

Microsoft confirmed the new price for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in a news post this morning. The subscription will now cost $29.99 a month, a $10 increase from its previous $19.99 price point. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is also receiving new features with Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft Classics. Fortnite Crew is its own monthly subscription that costs $11.99 a month on its own, and gives users a monthly influx of V-Bucks, free Outfits, and the Battle Pass. Ubisoft Classics, another standalone subscription, grants access to a catalog of games that includes Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag.

As part of this change, Xbox Game Pass Core and Standard have been renamed to Xbox Game Pass Essential and Premium, respectively. Both subscriptions will also keep their respective price points of $9.99 and $14.99. This update also brings Cloud Gaming out of beta, with improved resolution and full access for Premium and Ultimate subscribers.

This is just the latest price increase for Xbox Game Pass, which has become routine for Microsoft. This summer, multiple Game Pass subscription tiers saw price increases that immediately went into effect.

Deisekeane on October 1st, 2025 at 17:49 UTC »

Cancelled as well. Gamepass was the reason I stuck with Xbox over PS5 but its not worth it at these new prices

PeterTheWolf76 on October 1st, 2025 at 17:39 UTC »

Keep in mind anyone canceling, will still need "essential" to play online... sigh.. next gen, PC for sure and no more consoles.

Maniick on October 1st, 2025 at 17:09 UTC »

Canceling when I get home