Xbox Game Pass is a key element to getting the most out of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Microsoft’s gaming subscription service is also beneficial for PC gamers who own the best gaming laptops and PCs. If you have an Xbox and don’t have Game Pass, you’re missing out.
For a relatively affordable monthly subscription fee, which you can cancel at any time, Xbox Game Pass gives you access to a wide range of old and new Xbox games, including the best Xbox Series X games and the best Xbox One games. On top of that, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate provides access to PC and Xbox games that can be streamed through the power of Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about Xbox Game Pass, from its games, subscription levels, and potential offers.
What is Xbox Game Pass?
Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service that gives you access to more than 100 games, from first-party Xbox titles to indie and third-party games, for a monthly or annual fee. Once subscribed, you can download these games directly to your Xbox. One and Xbox One X, Xbox Series X, Series S and Windows PC.
With support for Xbox Cloud Gaming, you can even stream many of these games to an Android phone through the Xbox Game Pass app, to iOS and Mac devices through Safari browsers, Chromebooks through the Chrome browser, and on Xbox consoles and Windows PC. through Xbox Game Pass and the Xbox app, respectively.
In short, the service gives you access to Xbox and select PC games from virtually anywhere in 22 countries and on a mix of devices, as long as you have a good internet connection; Game streaming also works on 4G and 5G connections. And thanks to Edge for Linux, you can stream Xbox Game Pass games on Steam Deck.
Xbox Game Pass prices
Xbox Game Pass comes in three variations. The first is Xbox Game Pass Core, which replaces Xbox Live Gold. This tier costs $9.99 (£7.99) per month and is available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X and Series S, giving you access to over 25 first-party and third-party games.
The original version of Game Pass costs $10.99 per month. This tier gives you access to over 100 Xbox games and the ability to play new Xbox titles at launch.
Xbox Game Pass for PC costs $9.99 per month and gives you access to over 100 PC games. One thing to note is that the Xbox Game Pass app for PC is not the best and may have some issues, but Microsoft is working to improve it.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the best bargain. For $16.99 a month, you get access to Xbox and PC games, as well as cloud streaming and saved sync between all three platforms.
The Ultimate tier also has EA Play membership, which grants access to EA’s online gaming subscription service and its games on Game Pass for Xbox and PC.
Xbox Game Pass deals
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate vs PC vs Console
In terms of functionality, the four levels of Xbox Game Pass are pretty straightforward. The Core and Standard console tiers simply offer access to a variety of Xbox games, from the fantastic Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 to older games like Skyrim and Destiny 2. And you get day one access to any Xbox Game game. Studios.
Xbox Game Pass for PC is practically the same as the console version, only it provides access to PC games. Given the cross-platform nature of many modern games, this means that PC subscribers will still be able to play Halo Infinite, but will also have access to PC-only games, like Death Stranding. If you bought one of our best gaming laptops or best gaming PCs, this is the Game Pass for you.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is so called because it includes all of the above in one package. But there is more. As mentioned above, access to EA Play is included, meaning Ultimate subscribers can play games like Mass Effect Legendary Edition, the Dragon Age series, a mix of Battlefield games, as well as FIFA and The Sims.
On top of that, there is access to Xbox Cloud Gaming, which is basically game streaming provided through the cloud. It allows you to stream Xbox games to Android, iOS, MacOS, Chrome OS, and Windows machines, as long as you have a good enough internet connection. According to our tests, the transmission is quite good. And with some games equipped with touchscreen controls, you can play Gears 5 on a smartphone.
Xbox Cloud Gaming through Game Pass Ultimate lets you stream the latest games to an Xbox One. This means you can get closer to a native Xbox Series X experience without actually owning the console; It’s true that there is some latency in the controller inputs, but sometimes the service can seem very slick.
If you can afford to pay an extra $5 a month, we suggest getting Xbox Game Pass Ultimate as it’s one of the best deals on gaming and a complete Xbox gaming experience.
Xbox Game Pass games
There are over 100 games available on Xbox Game Pass, and that list is getting bigger and will likely continue to expand.
From the full range of Halo games to titles like Psychonauts 2, Rainbow Six Extraction, Forza Horizon 5 and Starfield, and then a mix of Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, Game Pass has something for everyone. Please note that some games are on Game Pass for a limited time and may come and go off the platform.
Listing all the games here would be too complicated, but the range varies from triple-A first-person shooters to smaller indie titles like the excellent Hollow Knight. Then there’s the mix of games developed and published by Bethesda, added after Microsoft bought parent company ZeniMax Media.
As mentioned, EA Play games such as Star Wars Squadrons and Battlefield 1 are available on Game Pass Ultimate. Microsoft confirmed that Activision Blizzard games, including Call of Duty, will eventually come to Xbox Game Pass.
Additionally, all new first-party Xbox games will launch on day one on Games Pass, including Fable 4, The Elder Scrolls 6, and more. Simply put, Xbox Game Pass has a ton of games right now and will have even more as 2024 progresses.
Xbox Game Pass codes: how to redeem them
Access to Xbox Game Pass can be in the form of gift cards or codes. They are very easy to redeem.
You can do it online by visiting redeem.microsoft.com me tooSign in with your Microsoft account (you will need to create one if you haven’t already) then enter the 25 digit code. This will apply the code to your entire account, meaning you’ll have access to Xbox Game Pass when you sign in to your Xbox or the Xbox Game Pass app on a PC or mobile device.
On an Xbox Series X, Series S, or Xbox One, navigate to the Store app from the home screen; If you can’t find it go to My games and applicationsselect Applicationsand select the Store app. Once in it, press the View button on the Xbox wireless controller or move the cursor to the left to open the side menu and select Redeem. You will then need to enter the code (no need to worry about the scripts as these are already taken care of) and then follow the directions.
On a Windows 10 or Windows 11 device, you can also redeem a code by accessing the Microsoft Store in the Start menu, then select the “See more” option in the menu indicated by a trio of dots next to the search box. From there select “redeem a code” and then enter the code you have and Click or tap “Redeem.”
You can also redeem a code in the Xbox app on Windows, by accessing your player image (found in the top right corner of the app) then by selecting Settings and then the Redeem button. From there enter the 25 digit code and follow the instructions.
Once set up on a device, your Xbox Game Pass subscription will be linked to your Microsoft account, so any compatible device you sign in with that account on will also have your Game Pass subscription activated.
