Xbox Game Pass vs Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: what are the big differences?

hand holding Xbox Series X controller in front of a screen

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For many, Xbox Game Pass has been a huge reason to buy an Xbox Series Ten or Xbox Series S console. The subscription service offers a vast library of games all for a monthly fee, and the rotating roster of titles means that there's something new to play on a near-weekly ground.

In 2019, Microsoft as well introduced Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a college, expanded tier that grants players admission to not simply the base library of Xbox games, but likewise PC Game Pass, Xbox Live, the Xbox Cloud Gaming service, and EA Play for just a few dollars more.

The Xbox Game Laissez passer service, every bit a whole, has been then successful every bit to crusade actual shifts within the games industry. Sony, for example, is now rumored to be working on its own subscription service for PS5, separate from PlayStation At present, currently codenamed Project Spartacus.

If you're not familiar with Xbox Game Pass, though, or at least with the differences between its two tiers, and then we've prepped a guide listing all the major benefits of each. Read on to observe out which Xbox Game Pass subscription tier is right for you.

What do you get with Xbox Game Laissez passer?

Best Xbox Game Pass games — (Image credit: Microsoft)

Xbox Game Pass is the base version of the subscription tier, and the merely i that was available before the introduction of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. It costs $9.99 / £vii.99 a month, making it the cheaper of the two tiers.

The base of operations Xbox Game Pass doesn't feature many of the bells and whistles found in its more expensive Ultimate counterpart, but you lot exercise get access to the entirety of the Xbox Game Pass library on console. That includes any and all first-party Microsoft Game Studios titles like Forza Horizon 5, Sea of Thieves and Halo Space alongside the likes of Skyrim, Doom Eternal and Psychonauts ii.

Y'all're also getting loads of quality 3rd-political party AAA titles, as well equally some of the best indie games around. From Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Mass Effect Legendary Edition to Hollow Knight and Outer Wilds, in that location are games to suit the tastes of pretty much everyone.

The base Xbox Game Pass tier is ideal if you've only bought a new Xbox Series 10/South or older Xbox Ane console. If you only want to get stuck in and endeavor out a huge range of games without the need for extras similar PC Game Pass, online play or cloud gaming, and so Xbox Game Pass is a solid option.

What do you get with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?

xbox game pass prices deals — (Epitome credit: Microsoft)

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will likely be your first port of telephone call if you're checking out the service for the first time. Microsoft actually wants players to subscribe to the higher tier, it seems, as brand new players get access to a 14-day free trial for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Beyond that, players tin merits their beginning paid calendar month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for but $1 / £1. Every month later on that will price $fourteen.99 / £10.99, so a flake of a jump from the cost of the base Xbox Game Pass subscription.

With that in heed, you'd await Ultimate to come with its off-white share of advantages over its cheaper counterpart, and you can rest assured that it absolutely does. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundles in Xbox Alive Aureate, giving players admission to online play and monthly Games with Gold titles.

Only there's more on top of that, too. Ultimate grants access to PC Game Pass, a fantastic service if you own even a half-decent gaming PC. PC Game Pass also includes some PC exclusive games like Age of Empires four too equally the upcoming Full War: Warhammer 3.

For those of y'all who like to game on the go, Xbox Cloud Gaming is also included with the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate package. This allows subscribers to play certain titles on a device other than panel or PC, such equally a tablet or your smartphone.

Xbox Cloud Gaming at present streams most games at 1080p, so if you've ever wanted to play Dragon Quest 11 on the toilet in high definition, you can do so with Game Pass Ultimate assuming y'all've got a decent net connexion.

Rounding out the Ultimate package is EA Play, an boosted roster of titles from publisher Electronic Arts. These include the big sports hitters similar FIFA and Madden to games like Titanfall 2, Need for Speed Heat, and Mirror'south Edge Catalyst.

Lastly, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks offer monthly rewards such as gratuitous add-ons for various games like Halo Infinite, and free trials for apps similar Crunchyroll, Spotify, and YouTube Premium.

Our recommendation

While the base Xbox Game Pass subscription tier is fantastic, offer a vast library of games at a low monthly cost, we wholly recommend subbing to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for sheer bang-for-your-buck value.

Aye, Ultimate is slightly more pricey than the standard Game Pass subscription, simply yous get and so many perks in render that information technology's difficult to recommend the base of operations tier to anyone other than those who tin can't or don't want to pay extra.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes the standard Game Pass library merely adds in and so much more like PC Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming, EA Play, Xbox Live Gilt, and extra monthly perks for a variety of games.

At merely a few dollars more than, we'd absolutely go with Ultimate if you can afford it. Even if yous don't own a gaming PC to make use of PC Game Pass, Ultimate even so rolls in the cost of Xbox Live Gilt online play, making it a good choice if yous want to consolidate your Xbox memberships into a unmarried monthly cost.

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Rhys is a Staff Writer for TechRadar, and while relatively fresh to the role, he'due south been writing in a professional capacity for years. A Media, Writing and Production graduate, Rhys has prior experience creating written content for HR companies, restaurants, app developers, It sites and toy sellers. His true passions, though, lie in video games, TV, audio and abode amusement. When Rhys isn't on the clock, you'll unremarkably find him logged into Final Fantasy 14.