Why the New Xbox Game Pass Prices Won’t Break Your Wallet

Why the New Xbox Game Pass Prices Won’t Break Your Wallet

Xbox Game Pass got more expensive in late 2025, with Ultimate jumping 50% from $19.99 to $29.99 per month—$360 annually, more than an Xbox Series S—sparking fair questions about affordability and value. Yet the service still offers multiple tiers, frequent promotions, and clear ways to tailor spending to your habits. In this guide, we break down the new Game Pass subscription tiers, explain the rationale behind the Xbox Game Pass price increase in 2025, and show concrete strategies to keep your monthly gaming budget in check. If you’re selective, the right plan can still deliver affordable gaming—especially when factoring in cloud gaming benefits like no-download play across devices and bundled extras—without breaking your wallet.