There are four Xbox Game Pass plans: Essential ($9.99 a month), Premium ($14.99), Ultimate ($22.99) and PC Game Pass ($13.99). In short, pick Ultimate if you want new games on day one on console, PC Game Pass if you only play on a computer, and Essential or Premium if you mainly want online multiplayer and a back catalog.

Below is what each plan includes, the cloud gaming hour limits and the mistakes to avoid. Prices are US list prices checked against Microsoft's official pages in November 2026; they vary by region and can change.

Official image of the redesigned Xbox PC app showing Game Pass
Game Pass libraries are available on Xbox consoles, PC and supported cloud devices, depending on the plan. Image: Microsoft

Xbox Game Pass plans at a glance

  • Essential, $9.99/month: 50+ games, online console multiplayer, 5 hours of cloud gaming per month.
  • Premium, $14.99/month: 200+ games, online multiplayer, Xbox-published games added within a year of launch, 10 cloud hours per month.
  • Ultimate, $22.99/month: 500+ games on console, PC and cloud, day-one releases, EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew, 15 cloud hours per month.
  • PC Game Pass, $13.99/month: 300+ PC games, day-one releases on PC and EA Play, but no console access, no console multiplayer and no cloud gaming.

What each Game Pass plan includes

Game Pass Essential

Essential replaced the old Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass Core. Its main job is unlocking online multiplayer for paid games on Xbox consoles, with a rotating library of 50+ games playable on console, PC and supported devices. Free-to-play games such as Fortnite or Warzone do not need any plan for online play.

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Game Pass Premium

Premium is the middle option. It quadruples the catalog to 200+ games and adds Xbox-published games within a year of their release, but not on day one. It suits players who are happy to wait a few months for first-party hits and want a big library for less.

Game Pass Ultimate

Ultimate is the full package: the biggest library, new Xbox and partner games on launch day, EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics and Fortnite Crew, plus the highest cloud allowance and Rewards multiplier. Microsoft cut its price from $29.99 to $22.99 in April 2026. One exception: new Call of Duty games no longer join Ultimate or PC Game Pass at launch; they arrive about a year later, in the following holiday season.

PC Game Pass

PC Game Pass costs less than Ultimate and keeps day-one releases and EA Play, but only on Windows PCs through the Xbox app. If you never touch a console, it is the best value. Recent day-one additions such as Valor Mortis show why PC players often choose it over buying games outright.

Official Xbox image announcing Cloud Playtime hours for Game Pass
Microsoft now sets monthly cloud gaming hours for each Game Pass plan. Image: Microsoft

Game Pass cloud gaming hour limits

Starting in November 2026, Microsoft limits Xbox Cloud Gaming to 15 hours a month on Ultimate, 10 on Premium and 5 on Essential. PC Game Pass does not include cloud play. Microsoft says the change affects about 4% of subscribers.

If you run out, you can buy Cloud Playtime packs in the Xbox Store, and these also let people without Game Pass stream eligible games they own. During Insider testing in October 2026 the packs were listed at $3.99 for 10 hours, $7.99 for 25 hours and $11.99 for 50 hours; check the Store for current pricing.

How Game Pass price changes affect existing members

When Microsoft changes a plan's price, current subscribers usually see it at their next renewal rather than immediately. That is how the April 2026 cuts to Ultimate and PC Game Pass were applied. Essential and Premium kept their prices in that update. You can review or change your plan from the Services and subscriptions section of your Microsoft account, and it is worth checking there before your renewal date if you are thinking about moving up or down a tier.

Remember that prices outside the US, including in Brazil and Europe, follow their own local tables, so the comparison between plans matters more than the exact dollar figures.

Which Game Pass plan should you choose?

  • You mainly play online with friends on Xbox: Essential.
  • You want lots of games but don't need them on day one: Premium.
  • You buy several new releases a year or play on both console and PC: Ultimate.
  • You only play on a Windows PC: PC Game Pass.

Also on PlayStation? Compare with our guide to PS Plus Essential vs Extra vs Premium.

Official Xbox Game Pass image showing games coming to the service
Games join and leave Game Pass in waves, and each announcement lists which plans get them. Image: Microsoft

Common mistakes with Game Pass plans

  • Assuming every game is in every plan: Xbox Wire announcements list the eligible plans for each game. Many new arrivals are Ultimate and PC only.
  • Buying PC Game Pass for a console: it does not work on Xbox and does not unlock console multiplayer.
  • Forgetting that games leave: titles rotate out of the library. Members usually get a discount to buy a game before it leaves.
  • Counting on unlimited cloud play: every plan now has a monthly hour cap.

Xbox Game Pass FAQ

Which Game Pass plan has day-one games?

Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Essential and Premium do not get new releases on launch day.

Do I need Game Pass to play online on Xbox?

For paid games, yes: any console plan (Essential, Premium or Ultimate) includes online multiplayer. Free-to-play games do not require a subscription.

Is Call of Duty included in Game Pass Ultimate?

Older Call of Duty games already in the library stay. New ones arrive about a year after launch instead of on day one.