Xbox Game Pass Price, Day-One Games, And Tiers In 2026 Explained
Overview & Key Takeaways
Microsoft is once again shaking up its Xbox Game Pass service, with drastic changes announced in April 2026 that included a price decrease and the confirmation that new Call of Duty games will no longer launch into the service. If you're looking to join the service or upgrade your current membership, here's everything you need to know about what each Game Pass tier gets you.
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What is Xbox Game Pass?
Introduced several years ago, Game Pass is a subscription service that offers access to a library of first-party games from Microsoft and even more third-party titles. This a comprehensive collection of games across a wide selection of genres, and it can be accessed on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and through the cloud on compatible devices like phones and tablets.
Games come and go on the service--with additions and removals normally happening twice per month--but the key draw to Game Pass is that you'll get access to the biggest Xbox games on launch day. Or at least that was one of the key selling points. One of Microsoft's biggest franchises, Call of Duty, is no longer going to have its new releases launch into the service (more on that later).
Microsoft is once again shaking up its Xbox Game Pass service, with drastic changes announced in April 2026 that included a price decrease and the confirmation that new Call of Duty games will no longer launch into the service. If you're looking to join the service or upgrade your current membership, here's everything you need to know about what each Game Pass tier gets you.
What is Xbox Game Pass?
Introduced several years ago, Game Pass is a subscription service that offers access to a library of first-party games from Microsoft and even more third-party titles. This a comprehensive collection of games across a wide selection of genres, and it can be accessed on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and through the cloud on compatible devices like phones and tablets.
Games come and go on the service--with additions and removals normally happening twice per month--but the key draw to Game Pass is that you'll get access to the biggest Xbox games on launch day. Or at least that was one of the key selling points. One of Microsoft's biggest franchises, Call of Duty, is no longer going to have its new releases launch into the service (more on that later).
Xbox Game Pass Essential
If you're looking to dip your feet into this program, Xbox Game Pass Essential, previously known as Xbox Game Pass Core, is where you may want to start. Game Pass Essential, then known as Core, launched in September 2023 with 36 games, and unlike the other Game Pass tiers, it does not get new first-party games on launch day. Numerous more games have been added to its library since its launch, and members can choose from titles like Fallout 76, Doom Eternal, and Gears 5.
In addition to the games, Game Pass Essential members get access to online console multiplayer, deals, discounts of up to 50% off select games, and access to Free Play Days for select games.
For more, check out the full rundown of all the Game Pass Essential games.
Xbox Game Pass Premium
Moving up the ladder, Xbox Game Pass Premium, previously known as Standard, has a library consisting of hundreds of games and is available for Xbox consoles. You also get all the Game Pass Essential perks mentioned above like console multiplayer and discounts on select games, but this subscription does not include "immediate" access to first-party Xbox games when they launch. Instead, new first-party Xbox games will come to Game Pass Premium "within 12 months of launch."
PC Game Pass
If you don't have an Xbox console and you're not too concerned with cloud gaming, PC Game Pass is also available. You get access to a library of hundreds of games, as well as new first-party Xbox games on day one, except for new Call of Duty games. PC Game Pass also includes EA Play.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate saw its price go up to $30/month in October 2025, a move that Microsoft was criticized for. Then in April 2026, new Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma said in a memo to staff that Game Pass Ultimate was "too expensive" for players. Later that same month, Microsoft lowered the price of Game Pass Ultimate to $23/month.
As part of the price reduction, Microsoft also confirmed that new entries in the Call of Duty series would no longer be included at launch. Microsoft said fans could expect these games to arrive during the next holiday season, or about a year later.
For now, it appears Microsoft's other first-party games will continue to come to Game Pass Ultimate at launch. Microsoft's blog post announcing the latest changes did not confirm ongoing day-one launches for Microsoft's first-party games, prompting people to theorize that Microsoft is contemplating cutting other high-profile games out as well.
Whatever the case, Game Pass Ultimate is the beefiest version of Game Pass. It offers a library of 500+ games playable across console and PC, as well as access to cloud streaming, and access to other memberships like EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, and Fortnite Crew. These perks are on top of everything else in the other console tiers, including in-game perks, discounts, access to online multiplayer, and more.
