Skip to main content
ClienteleCLNTL
Home/Game Subscriptions/Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Best overall

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

SCORE9.0ELITE

$22.99/mo. Xbox + PC + cloud + EA Play

BEST FORConsole and PC gamers who want the most complete subscription. Ultimate includes every Xbox and Bethesda first-party game on release day, EA Play, cloud gaming on Android and iOS, and online multiplayer in one subscription. Though new Call of Duty titles no longer launch day one.
Reviewed by the Clientele Research Team · Last checked 1 month ago (2026-08-03)
Visit site ↗
Save Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to get a free email if its score or a key fact changes.
Scores. Click any row to see our rationale
Library Size▼9.5/10

400+ games including all Bethesda titles, Activision Blizzard's back catalog, EA Play's 100+ games, and Xbox exclusives. The largest first-party library of any subscription.

Value▼8/10

At $22.99 per month ($275.88 annually), Ultimate replaces Xbox Live Gold, EA Play, and day-one access to $70 first-party games. Buying four major first-party titles per year makes the annual cost break even against retail.

Day-One New Releases▼8.5/10

Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda first-party titles still launch day one (Halo, Forza, and Starfield were all included on release day) but Microsoft's April 2026 pricing update ends day-one Call of Duty access; new Call of Duty titles now arrive roughly a year later, during the following holiday season.

Platform Coverage▼9.5/10

Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows PC, Android cloud gaming, iOS cloud gaming via browser, Samsung smart TVs, and Meta Quest. The broadest device support of any game subscription.

Extras & Perks▼9.5/10

Includes EA Play, Xbox Live Gold for online multiplayer, cloud gaming via xCloud at up to 1440p/60fps on select titles since a February 2026 update (most titles remain at 1080p), member discounts up to 20% on purchases, and Game Pass Quests for rewards.

PROS
✓Every Xbox and Bethesda first-party game is still included on release day. Starfield and Forza both launched directly into Game Pass.
✓Cloud gaming via xCloud streams to Android, iOS, and Samsung TVs. No console required to play the full library.
✓Price was cut from $29.99 to $22.99 in April 2026 after Xbox's new leadership admitted the service had gotten too expensive.
✓Major day-one first-party releases like DOOM: The Dark Ages and Halo: Campaign Evolved (July 28, 2026) land in the library the same day they're sold at retail.
✓75 day-one releases per year across first- and third-party games per Microsoft's own count.
CONS
✕Price rose from $14.99 to $19.99 in 2023, then to $29.99 in October 2025, before Microsoft cut it back to $22.99 in April 2026 after subscriber backlash. Still a 53% increase over the 2023 price and the most expensive mainstream game subscription.
✕Microsoft's April 2026 policy change ended day-one Call of Duty access. New titles now arrive roughly a year later, during the following holiday season.
✕Cloud gaming quality is variable. Most titles are capped at 1080p/60fps, with only select titles supporting up to 1440p/60fps since a February 2026 update. Competitive games like Call of Duty can still be noticeably different via stream compared to native console play.
✕Cloud streaming needs a 5GHz Wi-Fi or 20Mbps+ mobile connection to work well; most titles stream below the new 1440p ceiling.
✕You need a Windows PC or Xbox console (or supported streaming device). There's no way to use Ultimate on a PS5 or Switch.
YOU MIGHT ALSO CONSIDER
PC Game Pass7.7

$13.99/mo. 400+ PC games day one

View PC Game Pass →
Apple Arcade7.5

$6.99/mo. 200+ games, zero ads, zero IAP

View Apple Arcade →
PlayStation Plus Premium7.1

$19.99/mo. PS library + classics + cloud streaming

View PlayStation Plus Premium →
COMPARE HEAD-TO-HEAD
Try Game Pass Ultimate← Back to Game Subscriptions
Visit site ↗