Microsoft... Microsoft... Microsoft. Microsoft jacked up the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $29.99 per freaking... month! That’s nearly a 50% increase from what it was before September 12, 2024... when the price was bumped up to $19.99 (from $16.99). Now another increase, but this time, instead of a $3 increase (that was met with a slight shrug by some)... this is a $10 increase just a year later. This is the third price increase in 3 years. I know Ultimate subscribers like Josh C., who are sounding like Smokey (from Friday) fright now.
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Are you willing to pay more to play new releases or popular AAA titles? If yes, access to the day-one titles added to that 500+ game catalog... could be a big win.
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Do you often use cloud gaming, especially on Fire TV, mobile/tablet, and care about better streaming resolution / lower wait times?
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Would you use EA Play, Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics? If you would pay separately for those, bundling them might help offset the cost. Fortnite Crew is $11.99/month (coming November 2025), Ubisoft+ Classics is $7.99/month. You're saving $10.69 for four services.
That said, shrugs still come from some gamers as far as these additional options go, because it reaches a point where enough is enough. Individuals like Josh, who's visiting Orlando at the time of this article being published, heard about the additions and responded with...
This wasn't a debate, but Josh said, "I'd rather go without the additions, because now it's too expensive."
I totally get it. It's not about what's in that $29.99 option... it's the fact that it's $29.99. Bills have to be paid, and when you do the math on that... it will run you $360/year. I guess they wanted to bring their prices... full circle? (Okay, let me stop with the jokes.)
$19.99/month is $240 per year, so that was already a bump up. At a time where a number of people just don't have it to subscribe to something at $30/month without cancelling something else... Xbox will lose subscribers over this. It's not because it's wishful thinking, it's because its more than some have to give.
Saving Grace
If you want to test the waters and still hold on to Game Pass or get in on it for the first time, there is the $14.99 premium option or the $9.99 essential option. First time subscribers can jump in for $1 for the first month.
- Premium will land you 200+ games, with new games made available within 12 months of launch. So you do not get access to the day one action.
- The Essential option lands you 50+ games with longer wait times.
Exercise Your Options
Xbox has to bring it with the increased price tag for ultimate. For others who would rather bow out because it's just too much and the offerings really don't appeal to you enough to stick around, don't forget to exercise your options:
Prime gaming is free... with your Amazon Prime subscription (which already comes with plenty to enjoy). You also get access to GOG, Ubisoft+, EA, Xbox, and of course... Luna+. You can play anywhere with this option also (as long you have an internet connection).
Luna+ is $9.99/month and serves up over... 135 games. That's more than 80+ more games than what Game Pass Essential has. These games aren't the latest, but when you compare them to the Essential line up... its better in some ways.
Prime Day Deal: Grab the Luna controller + a month of Luna+ for $39.99.
You don't need Amazon Prime to get Luna+, but if you want Amazon Prime with it... you get more perks:
- Luna Couch - Play Games and Chat with Friends or Family by sharing a code with them so that they can join you for a gameplay session as if you're... sitting on the same couch. They don't need a subscription for this.
Prime Gaming + Exclusive in-game loot for various games
- Fortnite
- LEGO Fortnite: Brick Life
- LEGO Fortnite: Odyssey
- Rocket Racing
- Fortnite: Battle Royale
- Fortnite: Ballistic
- Fortnite: OG
- Fortnite: Festival
- Stream on Twitch
- Play with a game controller or using your phone via touch screen controls
- Free Games to Keep Forever
- Requires a Fire TV Stick (Give you access to Xbox Game Pass if you ever want to get back into it) or an Fire TV.
- Free Access to some of your existing GOG + Ubisoft Game Library
- Movies
- TV Shows
- Sports
Amazon Music Prime (I use this the most)
- Music
- ASMR
- Podcasts
- Free Shipping
- Same-Day/One-Day Delivery
- Two-Day Shipping
- Amazon Fresh (free grocery delivery)
- Try Before You Buy
- Exclusive Prime Deals
- Prime Day Access
- Amazon Photos
- Grubhub + for Prime (no fees)
- Prime Reading
- Amazon First Reads
- RxPass & Amazon Pharmacy
What Does It Cost?
- Amazon Prime will cost you $14.99/month
- Amazon Prime Student is discounted at $7.49/month
Amazon Prime Access is discounted for those on government assistance at $6.99/month
There are Xbox Game Pass Ultimate discounts... if you want to stay in the game on that ultimate level.
Overall, I understand what price increases can do to a budget and not wanting to stretch it thin on wants. Those who know how we rock... know that we'd rather you NOT go for broke. Win with alternatives instead. Even if you don't go with Luna+, you still get to game with the Amazon Prime option, plus everything else. This isn't because we're sponsored by Prime or something, this is based on Prime being the most all-in-one option... if you want to get rid of other streaming services (beyond the free ones) so that you can start stacking and saving. You breathe a lot easier when you aren't tapped out... so budget, go with what works and... game on!
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