Xbox Game Pass has emerged as a stand-out among the various on-demand gaming services. Hundreds of games are available for subscribers to enjoy at any time across Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Microsoft exclusives appear day-and-date to release, and many have yet to leave the service years after initial release. Especially after E3 this year, where many new games were announced to come to Xbox Game Pass on their respective release dates, Xbox and PC players who haven't taken the plunge yet are considering signing up for the service. Xbox Game Pass has a few different options, and the differences between the plans can be subtle.
Xbox Game Pass has become incredibly popular. The service has a huge subscriber base that has stayed fairly consistent. Fans are constantly engaged online in discussions about what games are coming next to Game Pass and how long they'll last. The service offers a huge number of games from a wide range of developers, so many players see it as a cost-effective way to experience as many games as possible. Xbox has seemingly been trying to make Game Pass the "Netflix of Gaming" for a while, and it seems like its done a good job thus far. But many curious gamers wonder whether to go with Game Pass Ultimate or the standard subscription.
RELATED: How Xbox Game Pass is Redefining the Industry
Even the standard Game Pass subscription is packed. Many Xbox players will be drawn to the service for its low price point versus high value. For ten bucks a month, any Xbox player gets access to new Game Pass titles each month, alongside the existing library of games already in the hundreds. The basic subscription includes access to Xbox exclusives and many, many games from Microsoft-owned studios like Bethesda's Skyrim. The service is primarily a deal for those more interested in singleplayer experiences, or those looking to get the most proverbial bang for their buck. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes several other benefits, for just a bit more per month.
Coming in at fifteen per month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate adds a lot more to the service after the fifty percent price increase. It includes the nearly incomparable Game Pass library, and also adds EA Play access, Xbox Live Gold, and Xbox Game Pass for PC. Many players are more engaged in online gaming than ever before, so the addition of Xbox Live Gold is a no-brainer. Xbox Live Gold on its own costs the same as the base Xbox Game Pass subscription so players looking to jump online are getting a much better deal per month, and that's before the Xbox Games with Gold program that delivers free titles (to own permanently) each month.
Ultimate also includes Xbox Game Pass for PC, which often flies under the radar. The service offers most of the same games to play on PC, and while plenty of big AAA titles are available to run on players' high-end PCs, Xbox Game Pass for PC also offers a host of games that will run even on older builds. For those with already impressive rigs, this means that they can enjoy the best-looking games at their peak, and Xbox players can find many games to play on laptops or older PCs as well. This is further accentuated by the addition of EA Play, which includes a separate and expansive list of both new and classic EA games to enjoy.
It's worth noting that Game Pass for PC can also be subscribed to separately. Overall, Xbox Game Pass has plans to fit nearly any player's wants, and knowing the variations might make all the difference.
MORE: Bethesda Apologizes to PS5 Players for Starfield Xbox Exclusivity