Announced initially on the April edition of Inside Xbox, the new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate program is Microsoft's next stage of its popular service. One of the big requests from subscribers has been a single program to combine subscriptions for Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold, and now, Microsoft is delivering.
Xbox Game Pass offers an amazing value for money. It includes more than 100 games all ready to download and play on the Xbox One as long as you keep your Xbox Game Pass subscription.
That's exactly what Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is. With a little sprinkling of something new for PC gamers bundled in for good measure.
Best of the best
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold in one
Xbox Game Pass gives you access to over a hundred games for one monthly fee. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also adds Xbox Live Gold to the package so you can play online with your friends.
What exactly is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the combination of two current programs: Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold. Subscribers to Ultimate will have access to both for one monthly subscription cost instead of two separate ones. Additionally, the new Xbox Game Pass for PC subscription will also be included with Game Pass Ultimate.
Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft's subscription service that offers complete access to over 100 games. You can download these to your console to play in full for as long as you're a paying subscriber or the titles in question remain in the Game Pass library. Better yet, if a Game Pass title also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, you get access to play those on your PC, as well, as part of your subscription.
The new PC-specific Game Pass subscription has its own list of games, some of which are a crossover with the console program on account of Xbox Play Anywhere. But many are exclusive to PC, such as launch titles Football Manager 2019 and Metro Exodus.
If you choose to buy any game you play in Game Pass Ultimate, you'll get a 10 percent discount on it while you're a member.
Xbox Live Gold provides you with a number of perks. The first is access to online multiplayer in any Xbox One game, so if you want to play with friends you need Gold. More than that, though, Gold gives you four free games every month, two Xbox One titles and two Xbox 360 titles that are backward compatible and are yours to keep.
Gold subscribers also get exclusive discounts every single week on games from the Microsoft Store, as well as additional discounts during special promotional periods such as the Easter sale.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate provides access to all of this under one subscription.
How much does Xbox Game Pass Ultimate cost?
Confirmed pricing for the U.S. is $14.99 a month, but regional pricing may vary. As a special bonus, sign ups at launch are being offered for $1 for the first month.
When does Xbox Game Pass Ultimate launch?
It's available right now! After an early access program for Xbox Insiders, Microsoft officially started letting anyone sign up from June 9, 2019, the same day as it's E3 press conference.
Where is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate available?
When Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will be available in all current Xbox Game Pass markets.
So how do you get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?
Really easy. Simply visit the Microsoft Store from the account you wish to link to Game Pass Ultimate and buy a subscription.
Do you need to cancel Xbox Game Pass or Live Gold to get Ultimate?
When you sign up to Ultimate, any other current subscriptions are migrated across and automatically canceled for you.
What happens if you have prepaid subscriptions on your account already?
During the testing period, Microsoft honored prepaid months of Xbox Game Pass and Live Gold with free months of Ultimate. Currently, the same seems to apply to people signing up outside the Insider program, too, as we've seen first hand on multiple accounts.
The following is from the Insider FAQ which gives a good explanation:
As an Insider benefit, when you join Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to give feedback, we will apply any prepaid time you have on Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Game Pass or both toward Xbox Game Pass Ultimate up to a maximum of 36-months ... For example, if you have 3-months of Xbox Live Gold and 3-months of Xbox Game Pass already in your account and join Ultimate as an Insider, you will be charged $1 for your first month. For subsequent months we will apply 6-months toward your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (up to a maximum of 36-months).
Even if you're not totally convinced, for $1 it's definitely worth signing up and giving it a try to help make your decision.
Best of the best
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold in one
Xbox Game Pass gives you access to over a hundred games for one monthly fee. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also adds Xbox Live Gold to the package so you can play online with your friends.
Updated June 9, 2019: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is now available to the public so we've updated to ensure you have the latest information.
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