At some point, xbox game pass It was one of the easiest recommendations in the game because the value proposition was ridiculously simple. Subscribers pay a relatively low monthly fee, have access to a large library of titles, and can play new first-party Xbox games from day one without having to purchase them individually. After Microsoft announced in 2018 that all new Xbox One exclusive games from Microsoft Studios would be coming to Game Pass the same day they were released globally, it could justify months of service on its own, along with the price. It also lowered the risk because players didn't have to waste $60 or $70 on a game that turned out not to be for them.
But after Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the service's “all-in-one” tier, skyrocketed from $19.99 per month to $29.99 per month in October 2025, a subscription to the service has become much more difficult to defend. PC Game Pass also increased from $11.99 per month to $16.49 per month, making the service more of a value issue than Ultimate. But things changed significantly last month when Microsoft lowered Ultimate to $22.99 per month and PC Game Pass to $13.99 per month. Naturally, Game Pass is easier to defend now, but the question is no longer whether Game Pass is better than last year, but whether the new price once again offers the best value in games.
Xbox Game Pass price increase explained
Much to the chagrin of subscribers, Xbox Game Pass is raising costs once again, and it's not the first time the service has seen a price increase.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's best argument is still how much it's included.
It's easy to look at Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's new pricing and immediately think that it's back as the best game subscription service money can buy, but there's more to it than that. To be fair, the $7 price drop is significant. Especially considering that the new price is only $3 more than the original cost of the tier, as opposed to the $10 extra cost to subscribers after the October 2025 increase. But just because it's cheaper than before doesn't mean it's inherently the best value. This still depends on what new pricing doors open or close for current and potential subscribers. So it's worth taking a look at what Xbox Game Pass's Ultimate tier offers, and whether it justifies the cost of the service.
Everything included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
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Over 500 games available on Xbox consoles, PC, and supported devices
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New games on day one, including new Xbox published games and third-party games
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Includes Fortnite Crew, EA Play, and Ubisoft+ Classics
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Stream games in high quality with the lowest latency, including some of your own.
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Play in the store and earn up to $100 per year in rewards
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Benefits of the game include: league of legends and Call of Duty: Warzone
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Online Console Multiplayer
Without much effort, these benefits explain why I seriously argue that Xbox Game Pass is still one of the strongest values in gaming, and the service's Ultimate tier is the best foundation for that claim. Because it's essentially an “all-in-one” tier of Xbox Game Pass, it provides an extensive library of games, access to day one releases and PC ports, cloud streaming, online multiplayer, and a few additional benefits that may exist outside of the core subscription, all under one roof. Because Game Pass's value comes not from owning the games permanently, but from having free access to a huge selection of games for $22.99 per month, Ultimate gives players a wide enough range to replace multiple individual purchases, reduces the risk of trying something they're not familiar with, and allows the service to feel useful across more than one device or play habit.
That said, Ultimate's value still depends on whether subscribers treat it as more than a large demo box. Players who use it to try a few games and then leave behind may not see the same returns as someone who regularly consumes the catalog, dives into the first releases, plays online, and utilizes PC or cloud options. This is where Game Pass's current value argument becomes more nuanced than it used to be. At $22.99 per month, Ultimate may still seem like a strong deal, but only if you take advantage of its features. The service includes enough to justify the cost, but whether it's the best value in the game will depend on whether players can realistically get enough out of that bundle each month.
Game Pass is more complete than PS Plus, but PS Plus is easier for some players.
Of course, for Xbox Game Pass to be considered the best value in gaming, it has to outperform its competitors. PS Plus is currently Game Pass's biggest competitor, and Sony is definitely giving Microsoft a run for its money when it comes to pricing. Game Pass Ultimate currently costs $22.99 per month, while PS Plus Premium, the service most similar to Game Pass Ultimate, costs just $17.99. But this doesn't inherently make PS Plus a better value. Because it still depends on what each service offers relative to its cost.
Everything included in PS Plus Premium
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monthly games
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online multiplayer
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exclusive discount
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exclusive content
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cloud storage
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Share Play
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game catalog
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Ubisoft+ Classic
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classic catalog
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game trial version
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PS5 Cloud Streaming
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Sony Pictures Catalog
Even with all these advantages, Game Pass Ultimate will still beat PS Plus in overall coverage, as it includes console, PC, cloud, online play, bundled third-party services, and day one releases. PS Plus Premium is perfect for PlayStation-only players who want a more affordable service with a rich catalog and aren't interested in Xbox, PC Game Pass, or the first Xbox launch.
Game Pass isn't cheap, and it's broader, surpassing most other services.
But beyond Xbox Game Pass or PS Plus, there are plenty of other subscription services players can take advantage of. Nintendo Switch Online, GeForce NOW, EA Play Pro, Ubisoft+ Premium, and Apple Arcade all offer similar services to subscribers, but they still fall short compared to what Game Pass and even PS Plus offer. But it's worth looking deeper, as well as resolving the debate with more concrete evidence.
The Nintendo Switch Online + expansion pack is cheaper in price alone. Individual membership costs $49.99 per year and includes benefits such as classic Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, Sega Genesis, and GameCube games, as well as select DLC and Switch 2 upgrade packs. The only caveat is that it's not really trying to be or compete with Game Pass. After all, it's a cheaper Nintendo ecosystem subscription rather than the first game library of the modern era.
GeForce NOW Ultimate is closer to Game Pass, with a monthly price of $19.99 per month, but it is mostly a premium cloud gaming service. Its value comes from its advanced streaming capabilities, not just giving users a catalog of Game Pass-style inclusions. EA Play Pro and Ubisoft+ Premium are useful comparisons because they offer somewhat broader libraries of publisher-specific games, but are naturally narrower in scope. Game Pass is better suited for players interested in EA or Ubisoft games, while Game Pass offers more variety across publishers and genres.
In short, Nintendo wins on price. GeForce NOW wins in cloud performance. PS Plus can win over PlayStation exclusive players. Publisher subscriptions are beneficial to fans of a company's output. However, Xbox Game Pass does much more at once, making it a better value overall.
Game Pass once again offers the best value, but primarily for the right players.
Overall, Xbox Game Pass offers the best value in gaming, but it's primarily suited to the right players. Ultimate is still more expensive than PS Plus Premium, significantly more expensive than Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, and less focused than something like GeForce NOW for players only interested in cloud performance. However, Game Pass Ultimate is not the cheapest or most professional service, but it is the service that offers the most benefits to subscribers in just one subscription, including console games, PC access, cloud play, online multiplayer, day one launch, EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew, and other benefits.
This makes it hard to call Game Pass an automatic recommendation, but it's easier to defend it as the strongest overall value. Players who only use one part of Ultimate may be better off elsewhere, but players who jump between platforms, try new releases, play online, and take advantage of add-ons will get more from Game Pass than almost any other service. It may no longer be a ridiculously easy sell, but at its current price, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate once again represents a real example of the best value in gaming.
