For many, Xbox Game Pass has been a great reason to buy an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S console. The subscription service offers a vast library of games for one monthly fee, and the rotating list of titles means there's something new to watch. play. almost weekly.
In 2019, Microsoft also introduced Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, an expanded, higher tier that gives gamers access to not only the core library of Xbox games, but also PC Game Pass, Xbox Live, the Xbox Cloud Gaming service, and EA Play for just a few dollars more.
The Xbox Game Pass service, as a whole, has been so successful that it has caused real change within the gaming industry. Rumor has it that Sony, for example, is now working on its own PS5 subscription service, separate from PlayStation Now, currently called Project Spartacus.
If you're not familiar with Xbox Game Pass, or at least the differences between its two tiers, we've put together a guide listing the main benefits of each. Read on to find out which Xbox Game Pass subscription level is right for you.
What do you get with Xbox Game Pass?
Xbox Game Pass is the base version of the subscription level and the only version available prior to the introduction of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. It costs €9.99 / €7.99 per month, making it the cheaper of the two tiers.
The base Xbox Game Pass doesn't have many of the bells and whistles found on its more expensive Ultimate counterpart, but you do get access to the entire Xbox Game Pass library on console. This includes all of Microsoft Game Studios' first-party titles like Forza Horizon 5, Sea of Thieves, and Halo Infinite along with Skyrim, Doom Eternal, and Psychonauts 2.
You also get a lot of quality third-party AAA titles, as well as some of the best indie games. From Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Mass Effect Legendary Edition to Hollow Knight and Outer Wilds, there are games for everyone.
The base level of Xbox Game Pass is ideal if you just bought a new Xbox Series X/S console or an older Xbox One console. If you just want to get stuck in and try a wide range of games without the need for extras like PC Game Pass, online gaming, or cloud gaming, then Xbox Game Pass is a solid option.
Today's best Xbox Game Pass deals
What do you get with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is likely to be your first stop if you're checking out the service for the first time. It seems that Microsoft really wants to get players to subscribe to the next level, because new players get access to a 14-day free trial for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Beyond that, players can claim their first paid month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for just €1/€1. Every month after that it will cost $14.99 / €10.99, so that's a little higher than the cost of the basic Xbox Game Pass membership.
With that in mind, I'd expect Ultimate to come with a fair amount of benefit over its cheaper counterpart, and you can be sure that it absolutely does. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundles on Xbox Live Gold, giving gamers access to online games and monthly Games with Gold games.
But there is more and more of that too. Ultimate provides access to PC Game Pass, a fantastic service if you own even a half-decent gaming PC. PC Game Pass also includes exclusive PC games like Age of Empires 4 and the upcoming Total War: Warhammer 3.
For those of you who like to game on the go, Xbox Cloud Gaming is also included in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundle. This allows subscribers to play certain titles on a device other than a console or PC, such as a tablet or their smartphone.
Xbox Cloud Gaming now streams most games in 1080p, so if you've ever wanted to play Dragon Quest 11 on the toilet in high definition, you can with Game Pass Ultimate, assuming you have a decent internet connection.
Rounding out the Ultimate package is EA Play, an additional slate of titles from publisher Electronic Arts. These include sports blockbusters like FIFA and Madden to games like Titanfall 2, Need for Speed Heat, and Mirror's Edge Catalyst.
Finally, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks offers monthly rewards like free add-ons for various games like Halo Infinite and free trials for apps like Crunchyroll, Spotify, and YouTube Premium.
Today's Best Microsoft Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Deals
Our recommendation
While the basic Xbox Game Pass subscription level is fantastic and offers a huge library of games for a low monthly cost, we recommend subscribing to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for excellent value.
Yes, Ultimate is a little more expensive than the standard Game Pass subscription, but you get so many benefits in return that it's hard to recommend the basic level to someone who can't or won't pay the extra. .
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes the standard Game Pass library, but adds much more, like PC Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming, EA Play, Xbox Live Gold, and additional monthly benefits for a variety of games.
For a few bucks more, we'd definitely go for Ultimate if you can afford it. Even if you don't have a gaming PC to use PC Game Pass, Ultimate still pays for the cost of Xbox Live Gold online gaming, making it a good option if you want to consolidate your Xbox subscriptions into one monthly price.