Microsoft has rolled out the biggest shake-up to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service since launch, with significant price hikes for its most popular plans taking effect from 1st October 2025. The overhaul sees the top-tier 'Ultimate' plan increase by over 53%, raising questions about whether it still represents good value. While the cost of the Ultimate plan has increased, Microsoft has also enhanced the value of its entry-level subscriptions, which have gained new features without undergoing a price increase. In this article, we break down the new plans, including what has changed, to help you decide which option, if any, is right for you and your family.
What are the new Xbox Game Pass subscription plans?
The Game Pass subscription plans have been rebranded and restructured. The old 'Core' and 'Standard' tiers are gone, replaced by 'Essential' and 'Premium'. Below, we provide a summary of the new subscription tiers available to UK Game Pass subscribers:
- Xbox Game Pass Essential: This is the new entry-level plan (formerly 'Core'), costing £6.99 per month (£83.88 per year). It includes online multiplayer, a library of over 50 games, and now adds access to those games on PC as well as unlimited cloud gaming.
- Xbox Game Pass Premium: Aimed at mainstream gamers, this tier (formerly 'Standard') costs £10.99 per month (£131.88 per year). It includes everything in the Essential plan but expands the game library to over 200 titles on console, PC, and cloud.
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: The all-inclusive tier now costs £22.99 per month (£275.88 per year). It includes a library of over 400 games and guarantees access to all new Xbox games, including blockbusters like Call of Duty, on the day they are released. It also bundles in subscriptions to EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, and Fortnite Crew.
- PC Game Pass: For those who only play on a computer, this plan has increased from £9.99 to £13.49 per month (£161.88 per year). It provides a library of hundreds of PC games and day-one access to new releases from Xbox.
How do the new Xbox Game Pass plans compare?
We provide a comparison table of the new plans below, allowing you to easily see what is included in each plan.
| Feature | Xbox Game Pass Essential | Xbox Game Pass Premium | Xbox Game Pass Ultimate | PC Game Pass |
| Monthly Cost (UK) | £6.99 | £10.99 | £22.99 | £13.49 |
| Price Increase | £0.00 | £0.00 | +£8.00 | +£3.50 |
| Game Library | 50+ games | 200+ games | 400+ games | Hundreds of PC games |
| Online Console Multiplayer | Included | Included | Included | Not Included |
| PC Games Access | Included (for Essential library) | Included (for Premium library) | Included (full library) | Included (full library) |
| Cloud Gaming | Included (Unlimited) | Included (Unlimited, shorter wait times) | Included (Unlimited, best quality, shortest wait times) | Not Included |
| Day-One Access | Not Included | Not Included | Included | Included |
| EA Play | Not Included | Not Included | Included | Included |
| Ubisoft+ Classics | Not Included | Not Included | Included | Not Included |
| Fortnite Crew | Not Included | Not Included | Included (from 18th Nov) | Not Included |
| Key Exclusions | Day-one releases, large library | Day-one releases, Call of Duty, EA Play | None | Console multiplayer, cloud gaming |
How have the Xbox Game Pass subscription plans changed
While top-tier subscribers are being asked to pay much more, those on the cheaper plans have essentially received some free upgrades. We break down the changes in detail below.
- Essential (Formerly Core): The price remains £6.99, but the value has been improved. The game library has doubled, and the crucial additions of PC access and cloud gaming transform it from a basic online pass into a proper multi-platform subscription.
- Premium (Formerly Standard): The price remains the same at £10.99. Like the Essential plan, it now includes PC access to its entire 200+ game library and unlimited cloud gaming. Those thinking of downgrading to this plan from Game Pass Ultimate will lose access to Day-one releases, Call of Duty and EA Play.
- Ultimate: This option undergoes the most significant change, increasing from £14.99 to £22.99 per month. This represents a 53.3% increase, resulting in an additional £96 per year for subscribers. To justify the hike, Microsoft has added Ubisoft+ Classics (worth £6.99/month) and Fortnite Crew (worth £9.99/month).
- PC Game Pass: This plan has quietly increased by 35%, from £9.99 to £13.49 a month, an extra £42 per year for the same core service.
Is Xbox Game Pass still worth the money?
With such a significant price change, the value of Game Pass is likely to now depend on your family's gaming habits. For the Ultimate tier, a 53.3% increase will leave many questioning whether it is actually worth it. The value ultimately hinges on the bundled extras. While Microsoft promotes the inclusion of Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics, these only have a real monetary value if you are willing to pay for them separately. If you are unlikely to play any of these titles, then you will effectively be paying a surcharge for unwanted extras.
For many, the Premium tier at £10.99 per month is likely to be the sweet spot. It delivers the core Game Pass experience - an impressive library of games, online multiplayer, PC access, and cloud gaming - all for less than half the annual cost of the Ultimate plan. For anyone not desperate to play the latest Call of Duty on launch day, it is likely to represent the most cost-effective choice.
For PC players, the value of PC Game Pass will be down to the individual user. The PC gaming market is known for frequent sales on platforms like Steam at significantly discounted prices. Therefore, the cost needs to be carefully weighed against the cost of simply buying the games you want during these sales.
Do you need an Xbox Game Pass to play online?
No. For players who exclusively enjoy free-to-play games, a Game Pass subscription isn't necessary. The general rule is that if a game itself is free to download and play (often referred to as 'free-to-play'), you do not need a Game Pass subscription to access its online multiplayer features. A subscription is only generally required for the online multiplayer modes of games that you have to purchase. Examples of free-to-play games include Call of Duty: Warzone, Fortnite, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Roblox and Rocket League.
How to downgrade from Game Pass Ultimate
For existing Ultimate plan users, the new price of £22.99 per month will take effect on 4th November 2025. To avoid being charged the new, higher rate, you will need to downgrade your subscription before your first billing date on or after 4th November 2025.
You can change or downgrade your subscription at any time through your Microsoft account. Simply follow the steps below.
How to downgrade on a Web Browser
- Go to the official Microsoft account services page and sign in.
- Find your Xbox Game Pass subscription in the list and select Manage.
- You should see an option to change subscription plan. Select this to see the other available tiers.
- Your plan will be switched to the lower tier at the end of your current billing cycle, and you will be charged the new, lower rate from that point onwards.
- Choose the plan you wish to downgrade to (e.g., Premium or Essential) and follow the on-screen instructions to confirm the change.
- Your plan will be switched to the lower tier at the end of your current billing cycle, and you will be charged the new, lower rate from that point onwards.
How to downgrade on an Xbox Console
- Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
- Navigate to Profile & system > Settings > Account > Subscriptions.
- Select your Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
- Select the 'Change Subscription' option and follow the prompts to choose your new preferred plan.
- Your plan will be switched to the lower tier at the end of your current billing cycle, and you will be charged the new, lower rate from that point onwards.
How to cancel your Xbox Game Pass subscription
For those who decide the new Game Pass structure no longer meets their gaming needs, cancelling the service is a straightforward process that can be done either through a web browser or directly on an Xbox console. Simply follow the steps below.
How to cancel via a Web Browser
- Navigate to the Microsoft account services and subscriptions page (account.microsoft.com/services) and sign in with the account linked to your Game Pass subscription.
- Locate your Xbox Game Pass subscription from the list of services and select the "Manage" option next to it.
- On the following page, you will see an option to "Cancel subscription." Click this link.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the cancellation. Microsoft may offer an immediate partial refund or let the subscription run until the end of the current billing period.
How to cancel on an Xbox Console
- Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide menu.
- Navigate to Profile & system, then select Settings.
- In the Settings menu, go to the Account section and then select Subscriptions.
- Choose your active Xbox Game Pass subscription from the list.
- Select the option to Cancel Subscription and follow the final confirmation steps.
After cancelling, you will lose access to the game library and online multiplayer (for paid games) once your current subscription period expires. If you only wish to stop future payments, you can also select the option to "Turn off recurring billing" on the management page, which will ensure you are not charged again while allowing your service to continue until its expiration date.
Which Game Pass subscription plan should you choose?
The time when Game Pass was considered an obvious must-have subscription has come to an end. It has evolved into a regular, multi-tiered service that requires careful consideration before subscribing. We've analysed a number of different types of gamers and provided our summary below:
- Online 'free-to-play' gamer: Those who only play games that are free to download may not require a Game Pass subscription at all. Games like Call of Duty: Warzone, Fortnite, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Roblox and Rocket League can all be played online for free, so you won't need a paid subscription.
- Budget-conscious or casual gamer: Xbox Game Pass Essential at £6.99/month will be a good choice for most casual gamers. It offers excellent value, providing online multiplayer and a good selection of games across console, PC, and cloud for the lowest possible price.
- For the mainstream gamer: Xbox Game Pass Premium at £10.99/month is the top recommendation for the majority of players. It offers the best balance of price and features, delivering a full multi-platform experience at a very reasonable cost.
- For the hardcore, day-one player: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at £22.99/month should be treated as a luxury subscription service. It is only recommended if you play multiple new releases on the day they launch and get genuine financial value from the bundled extras, such as Fortnite Crew or Ubisoft+ Classics. Before committing, compare its £276 annual cost to buying your most-wanted games individually.
- For the PC-only player: Approach PC Game Pass at £13.49/month with caution. While it can offer good value, consider comparing its annual cost to the price of buying games, especially since there are regular sales where you can get games at a fraction of the price.
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