Xbox Game Pass 2024: Tiers, Prices, and Complete Guide

Last Updated: November 7, 2025

In the most significant evolution of its flagship subscription service to date, Microsoft has fundamentally restructured Xbox Game Pass. The service, which revolutionized how millions of people play games, has moved beyond a one-size-fits-all model into a multi-tiered system with new prices and features.

This overhaul introduces more choice for consumers but also marks a new chapter in the service's financial strategy, reflecting the immense value and cost associated with its ever-expanding library.

The New Xbox Game Pass Tiers Explained

Microsoft’s 2024 restructuring has reshaped its subscription lineup, discontinuing some familiar plans for new members and introducing entirely new ones. Here is the definitive breakdown of the current Game Pass tiers.

• Game Pass Ultimate: This remains the all-inclusive, top-tier offering for those who want everything. It bundles Game Pass for Console, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Cloud Gaming into a single subscription. Subscribers get access to the full library, including all day-one first-party launches from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, and Activision Blizzard. It also includes an EA Play membership at no extra cost. This is the premium experience, priced accordingly.
• PC Game Pass: The dedicated tier for PC players has received a price increase to $11.99 per month. It provides unlimited access to a library of hundreds of high-quality PC games, including day-one access to Xbox Game Studios titles and an EA Play membership.
• Game Pass Standard (New Tier): The biggest change is the introduction of a new, more affordable "Standard" tier. This option provides access to the vast Game Pass catalog but with one crucial difference: it does not include first-party titles on day one. Subscribers to this tier will have to wait a set period before major releases like the next Forza or Call of Duty are added. This tier is designed for more budget-conscious players who want access to the back catalog and don't mind waiting for the newest releases.
• Game Pass Core: Serving as the entry point, Game Pass Core replaced the old Xbox Live Gold service. It enables online console multiplayer and provides access to a curated collection of over 25 high-quality games, which rotates periodically.
• Game Pass Console (Discontinued for New Users): The standalone "Game Pass for Console" plan is being phased out for new subscribers. In a move to protect its loyal user base, Microsoft has grandfathered in existing subscribers, allowing them to maintain their current plan and price for the foreseeable future. However, new customers must now choose between Core, Standard, or Ultimate.

Decoding the Strategy: Why the Move to a Tiered System?

This strategic pivot from a simple structure to a complex, tiered model is a direct response to several factors. On one hand, Microsoft is managing the staggering costs of its content pipeline. The nearly $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard and the commitment to add its massive library—including new Call of Duty titles on day one—dramatically increased the service's operational expenses. A price adjustment was inevitable to ensure the model's long-term viability.

On the other hand, Microsoft is keenly aware of subscriber churn and market sensitivity. A universal price hike risks alienating a significant portion of its massive user base. The tiered system is a sophisticated solution:

1. Maximize Revenue: The premium Ultimate tier can be priced higher to reflect its unparalleled value, increasing the average revenue per user from the most engaged players.
2. Broaden appeal: The new Standard tier creates a lower-cost entry point for new or price-sensitive subscribers, preventing them from leaving the ecosystem entirely.
3. Retain Loyalty: By allowing existing Game Pass Console members to keep their plan, Microsoft softens the blow of the transition and rewards its long-time customers, preventing a sudden drop-off in numbers.

The Unparalleled Value Proposition in a New Context

Any discussion of Game Pass pricing is intrinsically linked to its value, which has never been higher. The landmark launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 directly into the service was a watershed moment for the industry. For the price of a single month's Ultimate subscription, members received a game that retails for $70, alongside a library of hundreds of other titles.

This is on top of an already legendary first-party lineup featuring franchises like Halo, Forza, Gears of War, and Bethesda’s RPGs like Starfield. The continued integration of the Activision Blizzard catalog, with classics from the Diablo and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series, constantly sweetens the deal. This immense library is Microsoft's core justification for its pricing structure, framing even the top-tier Ultimate plan as an exceptional bargain against the cost of buying games individually.

An Industry-Wide Trend of Rising Costs

Microsoft's strategy does not exist in a vacuum. It is part of a broader, industry-wide trend of rising prices for digital subscriptions. Streaming giants like Netflix and Disney+ have consistently increased their fees, while direct competitor Sony restructured PlayStation Plus into its own tiered system with significant price increases for its premium offerings.

This widespread inflation is driven by the escalating expense of content creation and acquisition. For gaming services, this includes billion-dollar studio purchases and the soaring development budgets for AAA games. In this context, the evolution of Game Pass pricing is less of an outlier and more of a market correction. Microsoft's tiered approach, however, demonstrates a calculated strategy aimed at balancing profit with subscriber growth in a maturing market.

Conclusion: A New Era of Choice and Cost

The 2024 overhaul of Xbox Game Pass marks the end of its initial, disruptive phase and the beginning of a more mature, sustainable era. The simple, one-size-fits-all offer has been replaced by a spectrum of choices, empowering players to select a plan that aligns with their budget and gaming habits. For those who want instant access to the biggest games, the value of Game Pass Ultimate remains undeniable. For others, the new Standard tier presents a compelling, affordable gateway to a vast world of games.

The question is no longer if the price of Game Pass will change, but how it will be structured. Microsoft has provided its answer, defining a new line between value and cost that offers a place for every type of player in its ecosystem—as long as they’re willing to choose their tier.