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Contents hide What are the differences between Xbox Game Pass plans? What is Xbox Game Pass Core?

With two different Xbox Game Pass plans to choose from, both with their own benefits and prices, you might be finding yourself wondering which one is the right one for you. After all, there’s no point paying extra for some benefits you’re never going to use, but similarly, you don’t want to opt for the cheaper option just to find out you can’t play a certain game.

With the recent Xbox Game Pass price rise, you might be wondering which plan is the most value for money, that’s where we come in. We’ll take you through all the differences between the two plans to help you decide which is best for you.

What are the differences between Xbox Game Pass plans?

There are two different Game Pass subscriptions with different price tags and different benefits. These are Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. So we don’t confuse things, we’ll refer to them here as Game Pass Standard and Game Pass Ultimate. 

The first difference, and the one you’ll probably notice first, is that Game Pass Ultimate is more expensive than Standard. Game Pass Standard costs £7.99/$9.99/€9.99 per month, while Game Pass Ultimate costs £10.99/$14.99/€14.99. With this extra cost comes a host of extra benefits which we’ll get into in a second. 

Both plans can also be discounted to £1/$1/€ for the first month if you’re a new subscriber, so if that’s you, it’s worth trying out Game Pass Ultimate for a month, and then switching to Standard if you prefer the cheaper option.

Now to consoles. Game Pass Standard comes separately for both consoles and PC. And while they largely share a library, there are some games that are only available on console, and some only available on PC. One of the major benefits of Game Pass Ultimate is that it covers both PC and consoles, giving you access to the service on both platforms, and letting you access the entire library. This also gives you the benefit of playing a game on one platform, and continuing it later on the other.

So, if you only play on your Xbox, or only on your PC, then it might be worthwhile simply getting Game Pass Standard. But if you own both and want to play your games on both platforms, then Game Pass Ultimate is for you.

This is the main benefit of Ultimate over Standard, but there are a few smaller ones, too. Game Pass Ultimate lets you play console games from the cloud, and lets you play certain touch-enabled games on iOS and Android. You’ll also get access to Xbox Live Gold, letting you play multiplayer on certain games. Finally, you’ll get monthly perks, like in-game skins, items, and sometimes even access to other subscription services for a month.

What is Xbox Game Pass Core?

Xbox Game Pass Core is a new plan that will be introduced on 14 September 2023, which will give subscribers access to online console multiplayer and a library of multiplayer games. This is currently what is covered by Xbox Live Gold, but come September, that service will be updated to Game Pass Core. 

What we know so far is that Core will cost $9.99, and will offer largely the same as what Xbox Live Gold did. Rather than its own library like Game Pass Standard and Ultimate, it’s more of a supplementary service for those who play a lot of console multiplayer. If you’re planning on buying this and a Game Pass subscription, you should get the Ultimate plan, as it will include both the Game Pass library and the Core services.

Hopefully we were able to help you decide which Xbox Game Pass subscription is the right one for you. In essence, it really comes down to whether or not you’ll use it across multiple platforms, and whether that’s worth the extra price for you. If you’re wondering what games Game Pass has to offer, check out is Starfield on Game Pass and is Exoprimal on Game Pass to check out if you’ll be able to play those games with your subscription.

About the Author

Alex Raisbeck

Alex is a Guides Writer for VideoGamer. He is an indie gaming obsessive with a soft spot for Zelda, roguelikes, and Football Manager, as well as an unhealthy relationship with his backlog.

Related Topics

  • Xbox Game Pass

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