Game Pass Ultimate, 3 months: $31
Save $16 vs. monthly plan
Game Pass Core, 12 months: $55
Save $65 vs. monthly plan
If you are the proud owner of an Xbox console, then you already know you’re going to want to purchase a Game Pass subscription. If you aren’t already aware, the older Xbox Live Gold became the new Xbox Game Pass subscription in September of last year, and it’s what you’ll need if you want to access online multiplayer and other perks. In fact, Microsoft overhauled its gaming subscriptions to a tiered system, so it’s well worth checking out what’s on offer and what you’ll get the most use from.
To help you understand how the new subscriptions work and find the one that’s best for you, we’ve broken down the different membership tiers below. And to help you get signed up for less, we’ve also rounded up some of the only deals you can take advantage of right now. We’ll continue to update this page as deals come and go, so be sure to check back often for the best prices available.
Game Pass Core vs. Console vs. Ultimate
Xbox Live Gold is no more. In September of 2023, Microsoft overhauled the Xbox Live memberships, and there are a few different new subscriptions to choose from. You can check out our detailed breakdown of the revamp for all the details on what’s changed, but we’ve explained the major differences below to help you pick the plan that’s right for you.
Game Pass Core
At $10 per month, Game Pass Core is the most affordable membership available. It covers what was previously included with a Gold subscription, including access to online multiplayer for console gamers. However, this new membership also includes access to a library of over 25 titles, including popular games like Halo 5: Guardians and Fallout 4. It also gives you access to exclusive deals and discounts. And you can sign up for a three-month subscription for $25 and save a few bucks each month.
PC Game Pass
There is also a version of Game Pass for PC gamers. It still costs $10 per month but comes with some extra benefits, including access to a much larger library of hundreds of PC games and access to new games on Day 1. This subscription also includes an EA Play membership, which adds a few more titles to your library and provides some exclusive rewards and content for select EA games.
Game Pass Console
If you’re a hardcore single-player gamer, there is also a Game Pass Console subscription. It doesn’t give you access to online multiplayer, but does include a massive library of hundreds of titles, including access to exclusive games on day one. And like the Game Pass Core membership, it also lets you take advantage of exclusive deals and discounts. It’s slightly more expensive at $11 per month.
Game Pass Ultimate
Game Pass Ultimate is the best of all worlds and has been more or less untouched by the revamp. At $17 per month, an Ultimate subscription bundles the benefits of a Core and Console membership for $4 less than it would cost to sign up for both separately. You’ll get access to the entire Game Pass library on your console, PC and mobile device, including access to select titles on day one, and you’ll have the ability to participate in online multiplayer as well. You’ll also get perks like exclusive offers and in-game content, and it includes the EA Play subscription that you get with the PC membership. Our reviewer called Game Pass Ultimate the “best content deal in gaming” and it’s the best option out there for all-around gamers who don’t want to compromise.
Best subscription deals available right now
Unlike the comparable subscriptions for PlayStation, there’s no annual membership plan available for Xbox gaming subscriptions, which makes it a little bit harder to consistently find them at a good value. While deals directly from Xbox turn up occasionally, they’re usually just for new subscribers. And because the revamp is still pretty new, there aren’t too many discounts out there yet, but you can score some savings through third parties with a little digging. To help you save some cash each month, we’ve rounded up some of the best (and only) ones available right now below.
This CDKeys deal is the best value you’ll find right now if you’re after a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Ultimate already saves you $4 a month by bundling a Game Pass Core and Console membership, and this three-month subscription deal cuts your monthly cost to just over $10 per month instead of the usual $17. These codes can be purchased by existing or previous Game Pass subscribers and can be stacked, so you can extend your membership and pay for several months ahead of time at a lower cost.
If you only want a basic Game Pass Core membership, you can score some big savings when you sign up through CDKeys. This deal scores you a 12-month subscription for just $55, which costs just under $5 per month vs. the usual $10.
If you purchase this 3-month Game Pass Ultimate (digital version only) at Target right now, it will cost you $40 vs. the regular price of $50, saving you 20% and bringing the monthly price down to $13. You can also pick up the one-month pass for just under $14 vs. the regular price of $17. Target Red Card users can save an additional 5%.
More shopping deals from CNET
