Microsoft has a couple of subscription services for owners of the Xbox One, Xbox Series X or Series S.
Xbox Live Gold is a monthly membership plan that is required for online play and, while it gives you a couple of free games a month, that’s its primary purpose.
On the other hand, Xbox Game Pass is the firm’s service that gives you access to hundreds of games for just one monthly fee.
They can each be paid for separately, but the best news is that you can get both, plus PC Game Pass, EA Play, Cloud Gaming and access to exclusive game discounts for a single, cheaper price.
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Here’s everything you need to know about Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
What is Xbox Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate?
Xbox Games Pass gives you access to well over 300 games to download and play on your Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S for one monthly fee.
If you upgrade to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you also get Xbox Live Gold, PC Game Pass, EA Play and access to Xbox Cloud Gaming, all for the same price.
You can download the games and play them as often as you like, as long as you continue to pay the monthly fee. Some titles might become unavailable as others are added, but you also have the option of buying any of the collection outright at discounted prices.
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox games are part of the line-up, the latter two through backward compatibility, so there are plenty of top titles to choose from.
Microsoft adds releases of its own and many third-party games on the same day they are released in stores. This includes Halo Infinite and Bethesda’s new, forthcoming sci-fi RPG, Starfield.
It could also include all of Activision Blizzard’s vast back catalogue of titles, when Microsoft’s acquisition completes, including legacy and new Call of Duty games.
The included Xbox Live Gold also gives subscribers exclusive discounts on many games on the Xbox Store.
How much does Xbox Game Pass Ultimate cost?
Xbox Games Pass Ultimate is priced at $14.99/£10.99 a month. You can cancel at any time.
As mentioned, it includes Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Games Pass for PC and EA Play. Plus, Microsoft’s cloud service, Cloud Gaming, is part of Ultimate at no extra cost.
The standard console-only version of Games Pass doesn’t include Gold, EA Play, Cloud Gaming or the PC version. It costs $9.99/£7.99 a month. It’s the same price for the PC-only version when subscribed to separately. Ultimate is clearly the better deal.
What games are part of Xbox Game Pass?
Xbox Game Pass will always offer more than 300 games, made up of Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox backward compatible titles.
Some might be switched in future for other games, but here is the current list of all the games that are currently available:
All the Xbox One & Series X/S games on Game Pass (as of 6 July 2022):
Note, all games run on Xbox One as well as Xbox Series X/S, but can have enhancements on the next-gen consoles. Some games will also feature Xbox’s Auto HDR and/or FPS Boost technologies.
7 Days to DieAI: The Somnium FilesA Memoir BlueA Plague Tale: InnocenceA Way Out **Alien: IsolationAliens: Fireteam EliteAmong UsAnthem **AnvilAragami 2ArchvaleARK: Ultimate Survivor EditionArt of RallyAssassin’s Creed OriginsAssetto CorsaAstria AscendingAstroneerAtomicrops – leaving 15 July 2022Back 4 BloodBackboneBassmaster Fishing 2022Batman: Arkham KnightBattlefield 1 **Battlefield 4 **Battlefield V **Battlefield Hardline **BattletoadsBen 10: Power TripBesiege (Game Preview)Black DesertBlair WitchBleeding EdgeBloodrootsBoyfriend DungeonBreathedgeBridge Constructor PortalBroken AgeBug Fables: The Everlasting SaplingBugsnaxBurnout Paradise Remastered **Bushiden – coming TBCCarrion – leaving 15 July 2022Children of Morta – leaving 15 July 2022Chinatown Detective AgencyChorusCities: SkylinesCitizen SleeperClusterTruckConan ExilesContrastCostume Quest 2Crackdown 3CraftopiaCricket 22Cris Tales – leaving 15 July 2022CrossfireXCrown TrickCrusader Kings III (Xbox Series X/S only)Curse of the Dead GodsDandy AceDanganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Anniversary EditionDanganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Anniversary EditionDay of the Tentacle RemasteredDayZDead By Daylight: Special EditionDead CellsDeath’s DoorDeeeer SimulatorDeep Rock GalacticDescendersDestroy All HumansDirt 4 **
Dirt 5 **Dirt Rally **Dirt Rally 2.0 **Disc RoomDishonored: Definitive EditionDishonored 2Dishonored: Death of the OutsiderDisneyland AdventuresDJMax Respect V – coming 7 July 2022Dodgeball AcademiaDon’t Starve: Giant EditionDonut CountyDoom (1993)Doom (2016)Doom IIDoom 3Doom 64Doom EternalDouble Kick HeroesDragon Age Inquisition **Dragon Ball FighterZDragon Quest Builders 2Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive EditionDreamscaperEcho GenerationEdge of EternityeFootball PES 2021 Season UpdateEiyuden Chronicle: RisingElite DangerousEmbrEmpire of SinEscape Academy – coming 14 July 2022Evil Genius 2Exo OneF1 2020 **F1 2021 **Fae TacticsFallout 4Fallout 76Farming Simulator 22Far Changing TidesFar Cry 5Fe **FIFA 15 **FIFA 16 **FIFA 17 **FIFA 18 **FIFA 21 **FIFA 22 **Final Fantasy VIIFinal Fantasy XIII-2FirewatchFloppy KnightsFlynn: Son of CrimsonFootball Manager 2022: Xbox EditionFor Honor – Marching Fire EditionForagerForza Horizon 4
Forza Horizon 5Frostpunk: Console EditionFull Throttle RemasteredGang BeastsGears 5 Game of the Year EditionGears of War 4Gears of War: Ultimate EditionGears TacticsGenesis NoirGoat SimulatorGolf With Your FriendsGorogoaGrid **Grim Fandango RemasteredGroundedHadesHalo 5: Guardians
Halo InfiniteHalo Wars 2Halo Wars: Definitive EditionHalo: Spartan AssaultHalo: The Master Chief CollectionHellblade: Senua’s SacrificeHello Neighbour 2 – coming TBCHitman TrilogyHollow Knight: Voidheart EditionHuman Fall FlatI Am FishImmortal Realms: Vampire WarsInfernaxInjustice 2Into the PitIt Takes TwoJurassic World Evolution 2Just Cause 4: ReloadedKatamari Damacy RerollKentuky Route ZeroKill It with FireKiller Instinct: Definitive EditionKingdom Hearts – HD 1.5+2.5 RemixKingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter PrologueKraken Academy!!LakeLawn Mowing SimulatorLemnis GateLethal League Blaze – leaving 15 July 2022Library of RuinaLife is Strange: True ColorsLightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIIILittle Witch in the Woods (Game Preview)Lonely Mountains: DownhillLoot RiverLost in Random **Lost Words: Beyond the PageMadden NFL 15 **Madden NFL 16 **Madden NFL 17 **Madden NFL 18 **Madden NFL 19 **Madden NFL 21 **Madden NFL 22 **Madden NFL 25 **ManeaterMarvel’s AvengersMarvels’ Guardians of the GalaxyMass Effect: Andromeda **
Mass Effect Legendary Edition **Matchpoint – Tennis Championships – coming 7 July 2022Max: The Curse of BrotherhoodMechwarrior 5: MercenariesMicrosoft Flight SimulatorMiddle-earth: Shadow of WarMidnight Fight Express – coming TBCMinecraftMinecraft DungeonsMirror’s Edge Catalyst **MLB The Show 22Monster SanctuaryMoonglow BayMoonlighterMortal Kombat 11Mortal ShellMy Friend PedroMy Friend Peppa Pig – coming 14 July 2022My Time At PortiaMystNaraka: BladepointNBA Live 18 **NBA Live 19 **NBA 2K21NBA 2K22Need for Speed **Need for Speed Heat **Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered **Need for Speed Payback **Need for Speed Rivals **Neon AbyssNeoverseNew Super Lucky’s TaleNext Space RebelsNHL 18 **NHL 19 **NHL 21 **NHL 22 **NHL 94 Rewind **No Man’s SkyNobody Saves the WorldNongunz: Doppelganger EditionNuclear ThroneOctopath TravelerOlijaOmnoOmoriOne Piece Pirate Warriors 9One Step from EdenOri and the Blind Forest: Definitive EditionOri and the Will of the WispsOuter Wilds
OutridersOvercooked! 2Overwhelm – coming 14 July 2022Pac-Man Museum+Paradise KillerPaw Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure BayPaw Patrol The Movie: Adventure City Calls – coming 14 July 2022Payday 2: Crimewave EditionPeggle 2 **Phoenix PointPikunikuPillars of Eternity: Complete EditionPillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Ultimate EditionPlants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville **Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare **Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2 **Power Rangers: Battle for the GridPowerWash Simulator – coming 14 July 2022PreyProject WingmanPsychonauts 2PupperazziQuake RemasteredQuantum BreakRace with RyanRage 2Raji: An Ancient EpicRare ReplayRecompileReCore: Definitive EditionResearch and DestroyRing of PainRoad 96 – coming 7 July 2022Rocket Arena **Rory McIlroy PGA Tour **Rubber BanditsRush: A DisneyPixar AdventureRyse: Son of RomeSableScorn – coming TBCScreamRideSea of SolitudeSea of ThievesSecond ExtinctionShadowrun: DragonfallShadowrun: Hong KongShadowrun ReturnsShredders (Xbox Series X/S only)Signalis – coming TBCSigns of the SojournerSkateBirdSkul: The Hero SlayerSlay The SpireSlime RancherSniper Elite 4Sniper Elite 5Space Warlord OrganSpacelines from the Far OutSpelunky 2SpiritfarerStardew Valley
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order **Star Wars Battlefront **Star Wars Battlefront II **Star Wars: Squadrons **State of Decay 2: Juggernaut EditionState of Decay: Year-OneStellaris: Console EditionStranger Things 3: The GameSubnauticaSubnautica 2: Below ZeroSunset OverdriveSuper Lucky’s TaleSuper Mega Baseball 3SuperliminalSupralandSurgeon Simulator 2Surviving MarsTainted Grail: ConquestTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s RevengeTell Me Why: Chapters 1-3Telling LiesTerrariaTetris Effect: ConnectedThe AnacrusisThe Artful EscapeThe AscentThe Bard’s Tale ARPG: Remastered and ResparkledThe Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s CutThe Bard’s Tale TrilogyThe Dungeon of NaheulbeukThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special EditionThe Elder Scrolls OnlineThe Evil WithinThe Evil Within 2The Forgotten CityThe Good LifeThe GunkThe Last Kids on Earth and the Staff of DoomThe Little AcreThe Outer WorldsThe PedestrianThe Procession to CalvaryThe RiftbreakerThe Sims 4 **The Walking Dead: The Complete First SeasonThe Walking Dead: Season TwoThe Walking Dead: Michonne – The Complete SeasonThe Walking Dead: A New Frontier – The Complete Season (Episodes 1 – 5)The Yakuza Remastered CollectionTheHunter: Call of the WildThis War of Mine: Final CutTitanfall **Titanfall 2 **
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six ExtractionTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Deluxe EditionTotally Accurate Battle SimulatorTotally Reliable Delivery ServiceTouhou Luna NightsTrailmakersTrain Sim World 2Transformers: BattlegroundsTrek to YomiTropico 6TunicTurnip Boy Commits Tax EvasionTwelve MinutesTwo Point HospitalUFC 3 **UFC 4 **Umurangi Generation Special EditionUndertaleUndungeonUnpackingUnravel **Unravel Two **UnsightedUnsouledVisageVoid BastardsWarhammer 40,000: BattlesectorWasteland 2: Director’s CutWasteland 3Wasteland RemasteredWe Happy FewWeird WestWhat Remains of Edith FinchWindjammers 2Wolfenstein: The New OrderWolfenstein: The Old BloodWolfenstein II: The New ColossusWolfenstein: YoungbloodWorld War ZWorms W.M.DWreckfestYakuza 0Yakuza 3 RemasteredYakuza 4 RemasteredYakuza 5 RemasteredYakuza 6: The Song of LifeYakuza KiwamiYakuza Kiwami 2Yakuza: Like a DragonYoung SoulsZero Escape: The Nonary GamesZombie Army 4: Dead WarZoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection
All the Xbox 360 backward compatibility games on Game Pass:
Alan Wake’s American NightmareAlice: Madness Returns **Banjo-KazooieBanjo Kazooie: N n BBanjo-TooieBattlefield 1943 **Battlefield 3 **Battlefield: Bad Company **Battlefield: Bad Company 2 **Bejeweled 2 **Bejeweled 3 **Brutal Legend **Crysis **Crysis 2 **Crysis 3 **Dante’s Inferno **Dead Space **Dead Space 2 **Dead Space 3 **Dead Space Ignition **Double Dragon NeonDragon Age: Origins **Dragon Age 2 **Fable AnniversaryFable IIFable IIIFallout 3Fallout: New VegasFeeding Frenzy **Feeding Frenzy 2 **Fight Night Champion **Final Fantasy XIIIGears of WarGears of War 2Gears of War 3Gears of War: JudgmentHeavy Weapon **Jetpac RefuelledJoy Ride TurboKameoMass Effect **Mass Effect 2 **Mass Effect 3 **Medal of Honor Airborne **Mirror’s Edge **Peggle **Perfect DarkPerfect Dark ZeroPlants vs Zombies **RageSkate **Skate 3 **SSX **The Elder Scrolls IV: OblivionViva PiñataViva Piñata: Trouble in ParadiseZuma **Zuma’s Revenge! **
All the original Xbox backward compatibility games on Game Pass:
Black **Blinx – The Time SweeperCrimson Skies: High Road to RevengeFuzion FrenzyPsychonautsThe Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
** included as part of EA Play for Ultimate subscribers only.