Xbox Game Pass Price History & How to Cancel
Ultimate dropped to $22.99 in April 2026 after briefly costing $29.99, while Essential and Premium remain $9.99 and $14.99.
How much does Xbox Game Pass cost?
| Plan | Current price |
|---|---|
| Essential (formerly Core) | $9.99/mo |
| Premium (formerly Standard) | $14.99/mo |
| Ultimate | $22.99/mo |
US list prices; taxes, promotions, and app-store billing may differ. Last reviewed July 10, 2026.
Verify on the official pricing pageXbox Game Pass price history
April 2026
Ultimate dropped from $29.99 to $22.99; PC Game Pass dropped from $16.49 to $13.99.
October 2025
Ultimate rose $19.99 → $29.99 (+50%) as tiers were renamed Essential/Premium/Ultimate.
July 2024
Ultimate went from $16.99 to $19.99; Standard tier introduced.
July 2023
First Ultimate increase: $14.99 → $16.99.
How to cancel Xbox Game Pass
- 1Go to account.microsoft.com/services and sign in.
- 2Find Game Pass and click Manage.
- 3Choose Cancel subscription (or Turn off recurring billing to let it lapse).
- 4Confirm; access lasts until the end of the paid period.
What to know before you cancel
If you cancel within the refund-eligible window shortly after a charge, Microsoft may offer a refund on the Manage page. Game saves stay in the cloud, so lapsing and rejoining later is safe. Prepaid Game Pass codes still work, but they convert at reduced ratios under the current tier structure. Downgrading Ultimate to Premium saves $96/year if you do not need day-one releases or the highest-priority cloud gaming.
Free trial policy
Occasional $1 first-month promos for new members; no standing free trial.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Xbox Game Pass?
Current US list prices for Xbox Game Pass are Essential (formerly Core): $9.99/mo · Premium (formerly Standard): $14.99/mo · Ultimate: $22.99/mo. Taxes, promotions, bundles, and third-party billing can change the final price.
How do I cancel Xbox Game Pass?
Start here: Go to account.microsoft.com/services and sign in. Complete the remaining confirmation steps before leaving the account page, and save the cancellation email or screenshot.
Do I lose my games and saves if I cancel Game Pass?
You lose access to the Game Pass library, but your saves stay in the cloud and any games you purchased outright remain yours. Resubscribe later and you pick up exactly where you left off.
Is Game Pass Ultimate worth it at $22.99?
At $275.88/year, Ultimate makes the most sense if you play several day-one releases, want its partner benefits, or use priority cloud gaming regularly. Premium at $14.99 keeps a smaller library and receives select Xbox releases later.
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