Xbox is raising its Game Pass prices ahead of the launch of two new handheld consoles on Oct. 16.
The new breakdown between a trio of tiers — Essential, Premium and Ultimate — is focused on the number of games available in one’s Game Pass library. It is platform-agnostic, which makes sense considering the upcoming Xbox ROG Ally handhelds are half-console, half-PC.
The new Game Pass Essential tier costs $9.99 per month but has just 50(-plus) games; Premium boasts 200(-plus) for $14.99 and the new Ultimate plan features 400(-plus) games for $29.99.
The pricier tiers have additional benefits, like the number of year-one and day-one games available, as well as increasing levels of Microsoft Rewards. The quality of streams for cloud gaming and the wait times for games also get better as you pay more. Finally, only the most-expensive option now includes EA Play (they all used to), as well as Ubisoft+ Classics and Fortnite Crew. Find additional details here.
Formerly, the PC Game Pass plan cost $11.99/month and the prior Ultimate iteration, the one Xbox console players used, ran $19.99. There were some other differences, but they were less dramatic than the current splits.
These Game Pass price hikes follow recently announced increases for the consoles themselves. Starting Friday, Oct. 3, the Xbox Series S (the white, digital-only, entry-level model) will start at $399.99 (up $20) and the Xbox Series X, the top-of-the-line option with a slot for physical media, will cost $649.99 (up $50). There are various other configurations that will see price increases from $20 to $70; this marks the second time Xbox console prices have increased in just six months. The company cited “macroeconomic factors,” which likely (mostly) means President Trump’s tariffs.
Last week, Microsoft revealed the prices on its upcoming handhelds, a partnership with hardware company Asus. They were more expensive than some reported (and purported) price leaks suggested; the Xbox ROG Ally (the white one) will cost $599.99 and the Xbox ROG Ally X (black) will cost $999.99. The colors are not the only difference, of course: find the important specs here. The Xbox ROG Ally X is a Best Buy exclusive.
The Xbox handhelds are available for preorder now. They will be released on Oct. 16.
