Here’s how much Xbox Game Pass costs in 2017 compared to 2017. 2026

Xbox Game Pass lets casual and veteran gamers immerse themselves in titles spanning all Xbox generations on 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 the gradual change and expansion of the Xbox library triggered price hikes that proved the deal was still too good to be true. And even though the recent Game Pass price drop marked the first step in saving Xbox from losing the console wars, tarnishing its reputation, it’s still hard to ignore just how much subscription prices have increased 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 just $9.99 per month. Xbox Live members were also treated to a 14-day free trial and had early access to its library. Fast forward to September 2026, where a $9.99 subscription, the essential Game Pass plan, allows players access to just over 50 titles and five hours of cloud gaming per month.

Console gamers hoping to get the most out of their subscription should either sign up for the $14.99 monthly Premium plan, which offers more than 200 games and instant access to new titles released on Xbox within a year of release, or the $22.99 Ultimate plan, offering more than 500 games, day one availability for new games, and additional benefits such as access to EA Play, Fortnite Crew, and Ubisoft+ Classics. In Xbox’s defense, Game Pass has upped its game with the volume of content and features it offers. It’s also glaring that the same subscription price only offers consumers half the games, while the top tier costs almost double.

Those who want to sign up for Xbox Game Pass but aren’t quite willing to shell out the cash to play “Hades” and other games on their consoles can also subscribe to the PC-only version. As of September 2026, the PC tier costs just $13.99 per month to play over 300 games, with day one access to new titles and EA Play included. Xbox may have lowered the price of Game Pass Ultimate, but there’s a catch to this win that some consumers may not like.

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 the PC-only same-day launch benefit, and would instead be added to the service approximately a year later during the following holiday season. The move has surely ruffled some feathers among Xbox fans – some of whom may use Game Pass to get the “Call of Duty” perks offered at each tier. Regardless, other exciting new releases like “Minecraft Dungeons II” and “Dune: Awakening” still get same-day access, while others, including “Gears of War: E-Day,” are coming soon.