Microsoft just announced a massive second price hike in recent years, jumping the top-tier Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $19.99 to a whopping $29.99 per month! This increase has me wondering, Has Another XBOX Price Increase Effectively Killed Game Pass Value?
Frankly, I think third-party accessory maker Hyperkin should send a thank-you note to Xbox! Why? Right now when you purchase a Hyperkin Competitor controller, it still gets you a FREE month of Game Pass Ultimate. That’s $30 in immediate value, making their controller an even better deal than before. (Check out my full review of The Competitor controller here: https://youtu.be/VQiSu97gtmM)
I haven’t had an active Game Pass membership since February 2025—it’s October now—because for me, the value just wasn’t there anymore. The original appeal of the Xbox Series S and its all-digital format was low-cost access and Day One exclusives, but that was when I could get a 3 month, not one but THREE MONTH, subscription on Black Friday for $20 to $25.
Now, at nearly double the old price, the comparison to competitors is ridiculous, and Microsoft and XBOX are facing backlash and Xbox Game Pass Cancellations:
A whole year of the Nintendo Switch Online Family Package is about $80—less than three months of the new Game Pass Ultimate! As a self-admitted Nintendo fanboy, I know where I’m getting more playtime.
PlayStation Plus Premium is about $18/month, making the new Ultimate tier nearly 60% more expensive.
The math is simple: for the price of two months of Game Pass Ultimate, you’ve spent $60. The cost is climbing fast, and in a time when everything is getting more expensive, cutting this particular $30 subscription is an easy decision for me.
Is it time to cut bait on the “best deal in gaming?”
Your Turn!
Were you an Xbox Game Pass subscriber? Are you sticking with the Ultimate tier at the new $29.99 price, or are you looking to rival services like Nintendo Switch Online or PlayStation Plus for better value?
Let me know in the comments below!
Game Pass Price Breakdown (Ultimate Tier):
Old Price: $19.99/month
New Price: $29.99/month
Effective Date: October 1st for new subscribers (November 4th for current subscribers)
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