Here's How Much Xbox Game Pass Cost In 2017 Vs. 2026

Xbox Game Pass allows both casual and veteran gamers to dive into titles spanning every Xbox generation across the Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, from original Xbox titles like "BLiNX: The Time Sweeper" to recent releases like "Forza Horizon 6 Standard Edition." However, inflation and Xbox's library's gradual changeout and expansion sparked price hikes that proved the deal was always too good to be true. And even though Game Pass' recent price drop marked the first step in saving Xbox from losing the console wars, tarnishing its reputation, it's still hard to ignore how much subscription prices have risen since the service launched.

When Game Pass was introduced in June 2017, subscribers had the opportunity to enjoy over 100 current-gen and backward-compatible games for only $9.99 a month. Xbox Live members were also treated to a 14-day free trial and had early access to its library. Flash-forward to September 2026, where a $9.99 subscription, Game Pass' Essential Plan, grants gamers access to only 50+ titles and five hours of cloud playtime monthly.

Console players hoping to get more out of their subscription must either sign up for the $14.99 monthly Premium Plan, which has over 200 games and instant access to new Xbox-published titles within a year of release, or the $22.99 Ultimate Plan, offering over 500 games, day-one availability for new games, and added perks like EA Play, Fortnite Crew, and Ubisoft+ Classics access. In Xbox's defense, Game Pass has upped its game with the volume of content and features it offers. It's also egregious that the same subscription price affords consumers only half the games, while the next tier up is nearly double the price.

Those who are interested in signing up for Xbox Game Pass but aren't completely willing to fork over the dough to play "Hades" and other games on their consoles may also subscribe to the PC only version. As of September 2026, the PC tier costs only $13.99 monthly to play over 300 games, with day-one access for new titles and EA Play included. Xbox may have dropped the price of Game Pass Ultimate, but there's a catch to this victory some consumers may not appreciate.

In exchange for the tier's $7 price drop, Xbox announced in April 2026 that future "Call of Duty" games would be omitted from Game Pass Ultimate and PC only's same-day launch perk, and instead be added to the service approximately a year later during the following holiday season. The move has surely ruffled some feathers among the Xbox fanbase — some of whom may use Game Pass for the "Call of Duty" benefits offered across each tier. Be that as it may, other new and buzzworthy releases like "Minecraft Dungeons II" and "Dune: Awakening" still received same-day access, while others, including "Gears of War: E-Day," are soon to come.