Xbox Game Pass Gets New Names, More Games, and a Steep Price Increase

Xbox Game Pass has been updated for 2025 as Microsoft prepares for another year of big releases.

The subscription service now has four tiers: Game Pass Essential, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Ultimate. These new names come with changes to pricing, game access, and cloud streaming options.

Game Pass Essential remains $9.99 monthly in the US but now offers over 50 curated games across Xbox, PC, and the cloud. Member deals, online console multiplayer, and a Microsoft Rewards cap of $25 per year are included.

Game Pass Premium is unchanged at $14.99 per month, giving users over 200 games for Xbox, PC, and cloud play. PC Game Pass has been bumped to $16.49 per month, though it adds Ubisoft+ Classics and maintains day-one access to Xbox's studio games, including Call of Duty. This tier does not offer cloud streaming.

The biggest change ...