If you tried to make sense of Xbox Game Pass pricing a year ago and gave up, you are not alone. Microsoft renamed two tiers, cut the price of its most expensive plan by nearly a quarter, added a fifth tier sold only through Discord and Meta, and changed how new Call of Duty games reach the service — all within about five months. Here is what is actually true as of September 2026.
The Five Xbox Game Pass Tiers, Explained
Microsoft restructured Game Pass in April 2026 and has kept adjusting it since. As of September 2026, there are five ways to subscribe:
- Xbox Game Pass Essential – $9.99/month. The renamed version of the old “Core” tier: 50+ games, online console multiplayer, and discounts of up to 50% on select titles. New first-party games do not launch here.
- Xbox Game Pass Premium – $14.99/month. Renamed from “Standard.” Hundreds of games plus everything in Essential, but new Xbox first-party games arrive up to 12 months after release, not on day one.
- PC Game Pass – $13.99/month. Windows-only, 300+ games, EA Play included, and day-one access to new Xbox first-party games — except Call of Duty (more below). Down from $16.49 as of April 2026.
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – $22.99/month. The full library across console, PC, and cloud streaming, plus EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, and Fortnite Crew. Down from $29.99 as of April 21, 2026.
- Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition – bundled only. A stripped-down tier sold exclusively through Discord Nitro ($10/month or $100/year) and Meta Horizon+ ($8/month or $60/year) — it is not sold as a standalone Xbox purchase. It includes 50+ games and 10 hours of cloud streaming a month; the Meta Horizon+ version runs in a VR environment on a Quest headset.
Why Ultimate Got Cheaper Instead of More Expensive
Ultimate jumped to $29.99 in October 2025 and drew enough backlash that incoming Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma reportedly called the price “too expensive” in an internal memo. Microsoft rolled it back to $22.99 on April 21, 2026 — but the cut came with a catch.
The Call of Duty Trade-Off
As part of the same April 2026 announcement, Microsoft confirmed new Call of Duty releases would no longer launch into Game Pass on day one, on Ultimate or on PC Game Pass. Microsoft says these games will still arrive on the service, just roughly a year later, timed to the following holiday season rather than at launch. It is the clearest sign yet that “every new Xbox game on day one” no longer describes Game Pass without an asterisk — Microsoft has not ruled out extending a similar delay to other first-party franchises later.
Common Mix-Ups Worth Clearing Up
- “Game Pass Premium gets new games at launch.” It does not — that is Ultimate and PC Game Pass (minus Call of Duty). Premium’s day-one window is up to 12 months.
- “Starter Edition is just a cheap way to get real Game Pass on Xbox.” It is not sold for Xbox consoles at all — it exists only bundled inside a Discord Nitro or Meta Horizon+ subscription.
- “If I already paid $29.99 for Ultimate, I’ll get a refund for the difference.” Microsoft has not offered automatic retroactive refunds for the earlier price; the lower price simply applies from your next billing cycle.
Picking the Right Tier
If you own a console and care about playing new Xbox exclusives the day they launch, Ultimate is currently the only console tier that does that (Call of Duty aside). If you mostly play older or already-released games, Essential is the cheapest way in. PC-only players who do not need cloud streaming or a console library can save $9 a month with PC Game Pass instead of Ultimate. And unless you are already paying for Discord Nitro or a Meta Quest headset with Horizon+, Starter Edition is not something you can buy on its own — do not go looking for it in the Xbox app.
Related: If it is the Xbox app itself giving you trouble rather than a pricing question, see our guide on fixing the Xbox app when it won’t open on PC, or check what changed in the August 2026 Xbox update.
FAQ
What is the cheapest way to get Xbox Game Pass?
Xbox Game Pass Essential at $9.99 a month is the cheapest standalone plan, though it does not include day-one access to new first-party games. If you already pay for Discord Nitro or Meta Horizon+, the bundled Starter Edition can work out cheaper, but it cannot be bought on its own.
Will Call of Duty ever launch on Game Pass day one again?
Not under Microsoft’s current plan. As of the April 2026 pricing change, new Call of Duty games arrive on Game Pass roughly a year after release instead of on launch day, on both Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Can I get Xbox Game Pass through Discord or Meta?
Yes. Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition is bundled into Discord Nitro ($10/month or $100/year) and Meta Horizon+ ($8/month or $60/year). It is not sold separately, and the Meta Horizon+ version requires a Quest headset since games run in a VR environment.
What is the real difference between Premium and Ultimate?
Premium ($14.99/month) delays new first-party Xbox games by up to 12 months and skips PC and cloud access. Ultimate ($22.99/month) includes day-one first-party games (except Call of Duty), plus PC play, cloud streaming, and extra memberships like EA Play and Fortnite Crew.