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Game Pass is one of the most worthwhile extras you can add to your Xbox Series X/S or even your PC gaming setup. From the get-go, each tier of the online game subscription is worth its default cost, but the last wave of price increases put extra pressure on finding a worthwhile Game Pass discount.
Microsoft announced on October 1 2025, that Game Pass was going through some changes, with the most notable difference being in price. A month of Game Pass Ultimate, which was $19.99, is now $29.99, a 50% increase that now brings the value of Game Pass into question more than ever before. Fortunately, there are still plenty of Game Pass savings available to keep costs back to their pre-price hike MSRP (and even lower) if you know where to look.
What's new on Xbox Game Pass for April 2026?
Xbox Game Pass adds more games to its collection every month. This digital care package is usually several games strong, and depending on your membership, you can get games for Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One, or PC.
To give you a head start on everything coming your way this month, you'll find all the new games currently announced for April in the list below:
- Final Fantasy IV (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC)
- DayZ (PC) – April 8
- Endless Legend 2 (Game Preview) (PC) – April 8
- FBC: Firebreak (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – April 8
- Planet Coaster 2 (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – April 9
- Tiny Bookshop (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – April 10
- Football Manager 26 (PC) – April 13
- Football Manager 26 Console (Cloud, Console, and PC) – April 13
- Hades II (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – April 14
- Replaced (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – April 14
- The Thaumaturge (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – April 14
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – April 16
- EA Sports NHL 26 (Cloud and Xbox Series X|S) – April 16
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (Cloud, Console, and PC) – April 17
- Little Rocket Lab (Cloud, Console, and PC) – April 21
- Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – April 21
- Vampire Crawlers (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – April 21
- Kiln (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – April 23
The best Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deals
If you want to combine your Xbox Game Pass PC and Console subscriptions and pick up some Live Gold months as well, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deals are a much better value pick. While a little pricier than the single Game Pass subscriptions, you'll find all the lowest prices for three month subscriptions just below.
Best Xbox Game Pass Deals FAQ
Is there an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 12 month subscription?
There is currently no official Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 12-month subscription, with many retailers only offering one or three-month cards. However, these codes are stackable, so you can load up and not have to think about your library for a full year.
How to drop the Xbox Game Pass price to $1
There is no way to drop the Xbox Game Pass price to $1 without Microsoft's introductory price, which starts and stops throughout the year. In 2022, we did see this price return during Black Friday sales, so that's worth keeping an ear out for this year. The trial allowed anyone to try out Xbox Game Pass for a month at a reduced rate before being enrolled in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, which then originally only cost $14.99 a month.
Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price worth it?
If you're at all interested in keeping up with the latest first-party Xbox releases, or exploring the massive back catalogue of first and third-party titles on the system, Xbox Game Pass is definitely worth it. However, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price is a little higher now, and it's worth considering whether you're going to be using the additional features it includes.
If you're not going to be playing online (remember, Microsoft doesn't require a Live Gold subscription for free-to-play titles anymore), and you don't expect to be buying too many games from the store outright, the Game Pass Ultimate price might not be for you and you're better off sticking with the skinnier subscription.
Did the prices of Xbox Game Pass go up?
On October 1, 2025, Xbox announced that the prices of various Game Pass tiers would increase to reflect the "expanded catalog", which included Ultimate increasing to $29.99 a month in the US.
Standard subscribers' prices will remain at $14.99, however that tier is now named 'Premium'. Meanwhile, Xbox Game Pass Core subscriber prices will remain at $9.99 but will be known as the new 'Essential' tier.
You'll also find plenty of the best Xbox Series X controllers to complement your Game Pass subscription in our handy guide. Check out our best Xbox Series X headsets and best Xbox Series X accessories if you want the best Xbox peripherals at your disposal.
