Windows Central Insider
Microsoft's Xbox division is responsible for a variety of gaming innovations we now take for granted. Direct-to-digital, at home cloud-based gaming multiplayer, achievements, among other things — but its subscription services are what gave Xbox it's biggest business wins.
We had Xbox Live in the past, but it has since evolved into Xbox Game Pass, a Netflix-like all-you-can-eat gaming subscription service, officially launched in 2017. The service has long been called the "best deal in gaming," although price hikes and restructures have tarnished its image throughout 2025, as analysts wonder if the deal was actually simply too good to be true.
As of now, Xbox Game Pass is structured into three main categories. Essential ($9.99/month), which offers a small pool of games, rudimentary cloud gaming access, and online multiplayer. Premium ($14.99/month), which offers a larger pool of games, improved cloud gaming access, and online multiplayer. And then Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($29.99/month), which offers day one access to Xbox-owned games like Call of Duty, the largest pool of games, enhanced 1440p cloud gaming, and other benefits. Microsoft also has PC Game Pass separately ($16.49/month), which also offers day one games, but increasingly it looks like PC Game Pass might get deprecated in the future, as it's almost hidden away on the website as of writing.
Xbox Game Pass remains a great deal despite the price increases, but only if you're someone who will actively use its features (or has cash to burn, I guess). It remains to be seen if the service will remain viable at its current pricing, but so far, it's showing no signs of winding down.
Essential Xbox Game Pass reading
Latest about Xbox Game Pass
Forza Horizon 6 players have it out for bowie knife99, a vicious AI drivatar
Forza The Forza Horizon 6 community has banded together against bowie knife99, a murderous AI drivatar that aggressively rams players during races.
Forza Horizon 6 races past Call of Duty's player count on Xbox
Forza Microsoft's official most-played Xbox games list shows that right now, Forza Horizon 6 has more players than Call of Duty on the platform.
New Halo report suggests Xbox's Campaign Evolved remake used "a lot of outsourcing"
Halo Xbox's upcoming Halo: Campaign Evolved remake was reportedly largely built by outsourced developers according to a new report about the game.
Forza Horizon 6 dev says it's still releasing Xbox's Fable "later this year"
Xbox As Playground Games launches Forza Horizon 6 with huge success for Xbox, the developer has reaffirmed it's still releasing Fable "later this year" too.
Forza Horizon 6 hits a massive new milestone across Xbox, PC, and Game Pass
Forza Xbox's Forza Horizon 6 got off to an explosive start at launch, and it's only picking up speed with a new milestone and Steam player count record.
Forza Horizon 6 mod lets you play your Spotify music through the in-game radio
Forza This sweet Forza Horizon 6 mod lets you play your own Spotify music through the in-game radio, but it's not available yet due to a Nexus Mods complication.
Forza Horizon 6 is now on Xbox Game Pass as more games get announced
Gaming Here are all the incredible games joining Game Pass in the coming weeks, including Microsoft's biggest new game of the year.
Stream another heap of your own games from the cloud thanks to Xbox Game Pass
XBOX Xbox has added nearly 70 more titles to its Stream Your Own Game feature for Xbox Cloud Gaming, including Forza Horizon 6, Oxenfree, Katana ZERO, and more.
