What Exactly Is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the combination of two current programs: Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold. Subscribers to Ultimate will have access to both for one monthly subscription cost instead of two separate ones. Additionally, the newer Xbox Game Pass for PC subscription is also included with Game Pass Ultimate.
Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft’s subscription service that offers complete access to a huge library of games covering both Xbox Series X/S and backward-compatible titles. You can download these to your console to play in full for as long as you’re a paying subscriber or the games in question remain in the Game Pass library.
Better yet, if a Game Pass title also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, you get access to play those on your PC, as well, as part of your subscription, even if you don’t have Game Pass Ultimate.
The PC-specific Game Pass subscription has its own list of games, some of which cross over with the console program on account of Xbox Play Anywhere. But many are exclusive to PC, such as Age of Empires and Microsoft Flight Simulator.
If you choose to buy any game you play in Game Pass Ultimate, you’ll get a 10% discount on it while you’re a member.
Gold subscribers also get exclusive discounts every single week on games from the Microsoft Store, as well as additional discounts during special promotional periods.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate provides access to all of this under one easy-to-manage subscription.
Use Xbox Live Gold Deals For Game Pass Ultimate
As of June 2019, there’s an even better way to make the most of these Xbox Live Gold deals – turning your membership into a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Game Pass Ultimate combines the online play of Live Gold and the game streaming library of Game Pass to bring you the ultimate Xbox experience. Plus, Microsoft are offering an introductory $1/£1 price tag on players’ first month with the subscription.
This is where it gets interesting, though. Microsoft is also offering to convert any remaining Xbox Live Gold months you have left when you sign up into Game Pass Ultimate months. As long as you add the Live Gold months to your account before you sign up for Ultimate, you can stack gift card codes to save an amazing amount of cash. Previously, this could net you up to 36 months of Game Pass Ultimate, however now that amount is based on a conversion ratio of how long you have left on your Live Gold subscription. It’s a great way to make the most of those Xbox Live Gold deals and explore the Game Pass library in one go.
You’re still spending money on the Live Gold deals, but this subscription is far cheaper than Xbox’s most expensive membership. Plus, Microsoft is fully supportive of the lifehack, so there’s no need to worry about being told off.
Is The Xbox Live Gold Price Worth It
If you want to play online, you need to grab yourself an Xbox Live Gold subscription to do so. However, if you’re not looking for multiplayer, you might be struggling for reasons to pick up a new service.
One of those reasons may be the Games with Gold program which offers free Xbox titles every month in a similar vein to Sony’s own PlayStation Plus offerings. This is included with your Xbox Live Gold membership, so if you regularly find yourself looking for something new to play there are some benefits here.
Plus, those Xbox Live Gold member discounts will come in handy if you’re a regular shopper, so if you’re spending a lot on that digital marketplace you may well make back the Xbox Live Gold price overall.
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What Is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Twitter user first revealed the Ultimate tier subscription, claiming it would cost $14.99 a month. The Verge says it expects this service will launch alongside the newly disc-free Xbox One S model later this April.
So what does it get you? Xbox Game Pass Ultimate combines the general Xbox Game Pass with the Xbox Live subscription into a single charge made every month.
If an Xbox owner bought an Xbox Live subscription and an Xbox Game Pass subscription, youd effectively be paying $19.99 a month since both services are typically $9.99 a month, unless you fork over more at one time for Xbox Live. Combining the two will save you $5 a month.
Where Is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Available

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is available in all current Xbox Game Pass markets:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States.
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What Is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate And Is It Worth It
ByRami Tabari22 April 2019
Microsoft is combining its Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass service into one bundle called Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, but is it worth it?
Microsoft recently announced a new bundle that will allow you to pay for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass in one simple payment plan called Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which will launch sometime later this year.
For the uninitiated, Xbox Live Gold gives you access to online multiplayer, while Xbox Game Pass offers a Netflix-esque library of more than 100 games that you can download and play for as long as youre subscribed to the service.
How Much Is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?
Xbox Live Gold | |
$119.99 | $179.99 |
Both subscriptions are currently priced at $10 per month, which adds up to $20 if youre paying monthly, but Xbox Game Pass Ultimate brings that package to just $15 a month. In that sense, youre saving money, but not that much.
One year of Xbox Live Gold costs $60, so if youre already paying for a yearly Xbox Live subscription and are also subscribed to Xbox Game Pass, then this wont change anything, as both add up to the yearly cost of $180.
Additionally, yearly and six-month Xbox Game Pass subscriptions occasionally go on sale, and anything under their current prices would make it cheaper than the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deal .
Stay tuned for more info and developments on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate right here as it starts rolling out sometime later this year.
Microsofts Apology And Retraction
Microsoft added this statement, in bold type, at the top of its amended Xbox Live Gold pricing announcement:
We messed up today and you were right to let us know. Connecting and playing with friends is a vital part of gaming and we failed to meet the expectations of players who count on it every day. As a result, we have decided not to change Xbox Live Gold pricing.
Were turning this moment into an opportunity to bring Xbox Live more in line with how we see the player at the center of their experience. For free-to-play games, you will no longer need an Xbox Live Gold membership to play those games on Xbox. We are working hard to deliver this change as soon as possible in the coming months.
If you are an Xbox Live Gold member already, you stay at your current price for renewal. New and existing members can continue to enjoy Xbox Live Gold for the same prices they pay today. In the US, $9.99 for 1-month, $24.99 for 3-months, $39.99 for 6-months and $59.99 for retail 12-months.
Thank you.
The original price increase announcement appears verbatim below this statement, but with lines drawn through the passages that detail the planned price increases that were rescinded.
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How Do I Use Xboxcom Coupons
To use a Xbox.com coupon, copy the related promo code to your clipboard and apply it while checking out. Some Xbox.com coupons only apply to specific products, so make sure all the items in your cart qualify before submitting your order. If there’s a brick-and-mortar store in your area, you may be able to use a printable coupon there as well. Get Xbox.com coupons.
Xbox Game Pass For Pc
Play over 100 high-quality PC games on Windows 10. Now includes iconic Bethesda games, new day one titles, and the EA Play on PC catalog. Join now to get your first month for $1.
Subscription continues automatically at $11.99/mo. unless cancelled through your Microsoft Account. See terms*. Requires Windows 10 and the Xbox app to play PC games. Get help here.
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How To Purchase An Xbox Live Gold Subscription
You don’t necessarily need a credit card to sign up for an Xbox Live Gold subscription. You can use one, but you can also buy Xbox Gift Cards or Gold subscription cards at retailers. Purchase a Gold subscription card at a retailer and then enter the code on your Xbox. You can also purchase an Xbox Live Gold subscription from the official Xbox Network website and through your Xbox 360 or Xbox One console.
For security protection, it’s better to buy Xbox Gift Cards and Gold Subscription cards at retailers instead of using a credit card online.
Cheapest Xbox Live Gold Deals
We generally find that CDKeys is one of the cheapest prices to buy 12-month Xbox Live Gold deals. However, you’ll need to make sure that your Xbox Live Gold membership code will work in your country, so double check the region before picking one up.
If you’d prefer to go down the official route, you can buy directly from Microsoft’s website. There are discounts sometimes, but we generally find prices stick to the full RRP. If you’d like to take a look, that’d be $59.99 in the US or £39.99 in the UK or $79.95 in Australia.
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Best Xbox Live Gold Deals In The Us
If you don’t want to commit, Microsoft will sell you a 1-month Xbox Live Gold subscription for $9.99. The membership renews at that monthly price unless you cancel it. That’s a hefty $120 annually.
The best-value way to get Xbox Live Gold directly from Microsoft is to pay quarterly. The company charges $24.99 for a 3-month membership. That cuts the cost down to under $100 per year.
The good news is that you can save even more with a 6- or 12-month membership. Microsoft no longer sells them direct to US gamers to encourage Xbox Live Gold members to upgrade to Game Pass Ultimate. But in the meantime, Xbox Live Gold is not going anywhere so now is a great time to pick up a cheap deal.
We’ve shopped around to beat Microsoft’s subscription prices. Check out this month’s best Xbox Live Gold deals and discounts below…
Love A Game In The Library

Xbox Game Pass members get a discount on games in the Xbox Game Pass library, plus DLC and add-ons. Use the Store tab in the app.
System requirements
Windows 10 | |
Processor | Intel Core i5 AMD Ryzen 5. Quad-core or higher. |
---|---|
GPU | NVIDIA GTX 1050 AMD Radeon RX 560 |
Memory |
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System requirements vary by game performance scales with higher-end systems.Not supported on Windows 10 in S mode.
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Xbox Cloud Gaming From September 2020
Microsoft’s cloud game streaming platform formerly known as Project xCloud is an official product as of September 2020, and is part of the increasingly attractive Game Pass Ultimate package.
The library of games has shrunk somewhat from that which was offered during the testing period, but there are still some of Microsoft’s finest in there for launch along with some top titles from third-party publishers. Most recently, titles brought in-house with Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda have joined the game streaming ranks.
Cloud Gaming is part of the main Game Pass app for Android, while on iOS, Mac, Chrome OS, and Linux, Xbox Cloud Gaming is available through the browser.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: Everything You Need To Know
Announced back in 2019, the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate program is Microsoft’s latest evolution of its popular service. One of the big requests from subscribers was a single program to combine subscriptions for Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold, and that’s exactly what you get with Game Pass Ultimate.
Oh. and it comes with a little sprinkling of something for PC and mobile gamers bundled in for good measure. Here’s everything you need to know about Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
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The Cheapest Xbox Live Gold Deals And Membership Prices For September 2021
Get the best price on an Xbox Live Gold membership deal
Xbox Live Gold deals can save you a wad of cash on everything from quick three month memberships through to a full year of online services. The Xbox Live Gold price isn’t the most expensive online multiplayer subscription in the industry, but it certainly pays to scour some discounts when time comes to renew. That’s why we’re bringing you all the best Xbox Live Gold deals right here – with all the lowest prices across the range of membership lengths.
Grabbing your Xbox Live Gold membership through Microsoft can cost you $60 in the US, £50 in UK or $80 in Australia annually, but you can save plenty of cash if you make the most of Xbox Live Gold deals from other retailers.
We usually see sites like CD Keys offering the best Xbox Live Gold prices around, with some excellent discounts around big releases, holiday seasons, and Microsoft’s own sales. However, if you’re in the US you can just as easily find discounts at Walmart or Best Buy and across the world Amazon often has some strong Xbox Live Gold deals as well.
4.Xbox Game Pass Ultimate memberships
If you’re also tempted by the Xbox Game Pass library, you might want to check out the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. The subscription combines access to the entire Game Pass library with Xbox Live Gold, offering both services for one simple price.
- Need something to play? Here’s all the cheapest Xbox game deals around
Microsoft Trims Price Of Xbox Live Gold Membership To $40
The deal scores you $20 off the cost of a 12-month subscription to the service, which offers multiplayer gaming, free games and other benefits.
Microsoft has slashed $20 off an annual Xbox Live Gold subscription.
Microsoft has cut the annual cost of an Xbox Live Gold subscription.
Instead of paying the usual fee of $60 a year, you can become an Xbox Live Gold member for $40. The fine print doesn’t indicate whether this is a temporary promotion, which it likely is. But it doesn’t specify when the sale will end.
Want do you get for the $40 annually? An Xbox Live Gold subscription — good for both the Xbox One and Xbox 360 game consoles — allows you to play with and compete against other Xbox owners. You can also tap into a lineup of free games and save anywhere from 50 percent to 75 percent on other games sold in the Xbox Store.
Microsoft’s Games with Gold program offers all Xbox Live Gold members free games each month. For March, members who own an Xbox One can get Rayman Legends for free, while those with an Xbox 360 can download Tomb Raider and Bioshock Infinite. In April, all Xbox Live Gold subscribers will a bonus: Xbox One owners will snag two free games while Xbox 360 owners get four freebies.
Xbox owners can tap into the $20 discount by either downloading a digital code or ordering a physical card in the mail.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment.
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Still New To The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Find Out About Its General Characteristics
Do not be discouraged, it is perfectly normal to have doubts about it, especially if you are inexperienced when it comes to this topic. Generally speaking, Xbox Game Passes have been around for a long time in the community, only now Microsoft has provided a fresh perspective.
But what does this mean? Initially, the game passes for Xbox were divided or destined to two modalities, console or PC respectively . As expected, with the purchase of one, you would not have the rights or characteristics of the other.
However, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate works in a very different way than both. Or rather, it combines the best part of the two variants to offer a quality service.
The price of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is absolutely worth every penny spent or invested, as you will not regret such a decision. Through it, it is possible to access the qualities of Xbox Live Gold, together with the Game Pass for PC and console. Therefore, you can enjoy, without fear of worries, the catalog of games available for both PC and console, merged with Xbox Live Gold.
In relation to this, you ensure the unlimited enjoyment of a list of up to 100 games more or less. Together with them, you will not have to wait for the launch of new games, but they will be at your fingertips from the first moment. And, as if that werent enough, imagine combining these aspects with the Gold features : Deals with Gold, Multiplayer with Gold and many more.