Microsoft's Xbox division is responsible for a variety of gaming innovations we now take for granted. Direct-to-digital, at home cloud-based gaming multiplayer, achievements, among other things — but its subscription services are what gave Xbox it's biggest business wins.
We had Xbox Live in the past, but it has since evolved into Xbox Game Pass, a Netflix-like all-you-can-eat gaming subscription service, officially launched in 2017. The service has long been called the "best deal in gaming," although price hikes and restructures have tarnished its image throughout 2025, as analysts wonder if the deal was actually simply too good to be true.
As of now, Xbox Game Pass is structured into three main categories. Essential ($9.99/month), which offers a small pool of games, rudimentary cloud gaming access, and online multiplayer. Premium ($14.99/month), which offers a larger pool of games, improved cloud gaming access, and online multiplayer. And then Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($29.99/month), which offers day one access to Xbox-owned games like Call of Duty, the largest pool of games, enhanced 1440p cloud gaming, and other benefits. Microsoft also has PC Game Pass separately ($16.49/month), which also offers day one games, but increasingly it looks like PC Game Pass might get deprecated in the future, as it's almost hidden away on the website as of writing.
Xbox Game Pass remains a great deal despite the price increases, but only if you're someone who will actively use its features (or has cash to burn, I guess). It remains to be seen if the service will remain viable at its current pricing, but so far, it's showing no signs of winding down.
Essential Xbox Game Pass reading
Latest about Xbox Game Pass
Microsoft and Meta are teaming up to offer Xbox Game Pass with Meta Quest VR Horizon+ sub
Xbox For all 6 Meta Quest owners reading Windows Central today, Microsoft and Xbox have a new offering for you.
PBA Bowling 2026 knocks down the other new Game Pass releases this last week
Gaming Among all the most recent day-one releases into Xbox Game Pass, an unlikely success story has been found in the bowling alleys with a game that launched eight months ago.
Halo: Campaign Evolved leads Xbox Game Pass' second wave of new titles for July 2026
Gaming Halo: Campaign Evolved, Beast of Reincarnation, id Software's Heretic + Hexen games, and more will make their Xbox Game Pass debuts later this month
Why Xbox pushed ahead with Game Pass even though studio heads "detest" it
Xbox In a new podcast, Bloomberg's Jason Schreier shared thoughts from Xbox Game Studios leaders, who reportedly "detest" Game Pass and its impact on perception of value.
Xbox Game Pass cracks appear after surprise removal
XBOX Xbox has removed Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 from its upcoming Game Pass lineup despite owning the IP, prompting questions about the service's direction as subscriber growth reportedly slows.
Black Ops 6 joins 51 new titles in Xbox ‘Stream Your Own Games’ library
XBOX Xbox's "Stream Your Own Games" library has expanded with 52 new titles. Game Pass subscribers who own these games can now stream Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and a bunch of indie classics.
Here are July 2026's new Xbox Game Pass additions
Gaming Xbox has announced July 2026's first batch of Xbox Game Pass titles, which includes Gears of War: Reloaded, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2, and many more titles that will be added throughout the month.
A viral co-op horror game is coming to Xbox, Game Pass, and Play Anywhere soon
Gaming Take the role of a gas station clerk along with friends in 3-player co-op to meet daily quotas and defend your products, along with your lives, against hordes of demonic creatures in Shift At Midnight, coming soon to Xbox and PC
