I’ve had a bit of a back-and-forth with Microsoft’s GamePass since it launched, subscribing, cancelling, subscribing again. But honestly, after taking a decent break, I’ve recently found myself pulled back in, and for the first time in a good while, it actually feels genuinely worth it.
The Rocky Relationship with Game Pass
Like plenty of others, my history with Game Pass has been… complicated. In principle, the idea of a service offering loads of games for a monthly fee sounds brilliant, and it often does offer amazing value. However, my experience has often been that the service could be quite disappointing. It felt very “hit or miss”.
For me, whether Game Pass was worthwhile depended entirely on the available games. And for a long stretch, the library felt padded with older titles I’d already played or had no interest in. The lack of consistent, impressive new first-party games being released didn’t help either. This led to a frustrating cycle where I’d subscribe for a month, play a couple of things, and then cancel because I didn’t feel invested enough in the “loaned” games.
2025: A Turning Point
Fast forward to 2025, and something has definitely shifted. Suddenly, and seemingly out of nowhere, Xbox Game Pass has become exceptional again. Xbox, after a somewhat slow start, is finally hitting its stride as a triple-A publisher. Their recent output of first-party titles and third-party exclusives has been undeniably incredible. This year alone feels like it’s shaping up to be one of the best for the service.
We’ve seen a steady stream of genuinely good and exciting brand-new releases hitting the service on day one. Titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Avowed, Atomfall, and Stalker 2 have all launched directly into Game Pass. Plus, big names like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Doom: The Dark Ages are also included. This guaranteed influx of brand-new games that would otherwise cost you £60 or £70 individually is undeniably amazing value. It helps democratise access to expensive triple-A titles, which I really admire.
It’s not just the first-party stuff either. Xbox has done a great job partnering with third-party publishers to bring critically acclaimed or surprise hits like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Atomfall, Revenge of the Savage Planet, and Blue Prince to the service. This makes the idea of subscribing far more enticing than it might otherwise be.
The Tiers and the Cost
Now, let’s talk brass tacks – the price. Game Pass isn’t as cheap as it once was, and the frequent price hikes have been a point of contention for many. As of the most recent adjustments, here’s a quick rundown of the main tiers and their monthly costs:
- Game Pass Core: This is the basic console tier, costing £6.99 / $9.99 per month. It primarily offers access to online multiplayer and a smaller library of around 40 older titles. You don’t get Day 1 releases with this one.
- PC Game Pass: For PC players, this tier is £7.99 / $12 per month. It gives you access to most of the Game Pass library (around 400 titles), EA Play, and importantly, Day 1 releases for PC.
- Game Pass Standard: This newer tier for console gamers costs £11.99 / $15 per month. It replaced the old “Game Pass Console” plan for new subscribers. You get a larger library of over 300 games and online multiplayer, but no EA Play or Day 1 releases on launch (though games may come later).
- Game Pass Ultimate: This is the top-tier, offering the full package at £14.99 / $20 per month. You get the largest library (over 500 titles), EA Play, Day 1 releases on both console and PC, online multiplayer, and Xbox Cloud Gaming Beta for playing on other devices. The price has crept up significantly over the years, starting at $10 a month for the initial service, then $15 for Ultimate in 2019, $17 in 2023, and now $20.
At the full price, especially for Ultimate, some might baulk. £14.99 / $20 a month adds up. However, many users point out that there are still ways to get the service cheaper, most notably by buying Xbox Game Pass Core codes (which was previously Xbox Live Gold) and converting them to Ultimate. While the best conversion rates might have changed or been capped (stacking is limited to 13 months after September 12, 2024, down from 36), these methods can significantly reduce the monthly cost, sometimes to less than £5 or $5 a month. This kind of discount makes the value proposition even stronger. Sharing an Ultimate subscription with a friend via the home console trick can also halve the price.
So, Is Xbox Game Pass Worth It in 2025?
Honestly, right now, yes, Xbox Game Pass feels worth it, particularly if you’re on PC or subscribe to Ultimate and plan on playing the day-one releases. The sheer volume of high-quality, brand-new games hitting the service is impressive. If you typically buy even just two or three new full-price games a year, the subscription cost for Ultimate starts to look like a bargain. Many find it a great way to try out games they wouldn’t have otherwise bought. I’ve definitely discovered some gems on there.
However, whether Xbox Game Pass is worth it really depends on your gaming habits.
- If you’re a casual gamer who only plays one or two games a year, particularly if they aren’t on Game Pass, or you take months to finish a game, then buying games outright, especially on sale, might still be cheaper.
- If you value owning your games forever, Game Pass’s rental model might not appeal. Some users play games on Game Pass to try them, and then buy them later on sale or a definitive edition if they want to own them.
- For gamers with limited time, the pressure to play games within the subscription period can be a downside.
The PC experience can still have technical glitches with the Xbox app, which is frustrating given Microsoft’s expertise. And there are concerns about the long-term sustainability of putting expensive games on the service day one, potentially impacting premium sales. Some worry this is a strategy to get users hooked before hiking prices further down the line. The discussion around games becoming multi-platform also raises questions about the need for an Xbox console specifically.
Despite the price increases and concerns about the future, the current lineup in 2025 makes Xbox Game Pass feel incredibly compelling. If you have the time to play multiple games a month and are interested in the diverse range of titles being added, particularly the Day 1 releases, the value is hard to ignore, especially if you can utilise the cheaper stacking methods. It democratises access to expensive new games in a way that’s genuinely exciting.
It’s not perfect, and it won’t suit everyone, particularly those who prefer to own their games or only play very specific titles. But for now, in its current heyday, I’m back on board and enjoying the ride.
