Microsoft has raised Xbox Game Pass prices and reshuffled the tiers. Ultimate goes up by 50% to $29.99 / £22.99 a month, but adds Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics. Microsoft also says Ultimate users should see 75+ day-one titles per year. The lineup gets a big drop today, mostly from Ubisoft’s back catalogue. Two lower tiers are now called Premium ($14.99) and Essential ($9.99).
What’s the new Xbox Game Pass lineup?
Three tiers with clearer names and a big price hike at the top.
- Ultimate — $29.99 / £22.99
- Premium — $14.99
- Essential — $9.99
Microsoft published an infographic alongside the change, and says Ultimate members get 75+ day-one games each year.
The rename keeps Ultimate at the top, with Premium and Essential below it. Ultimate gets the perks push (see next section) and the promise of more day-one releases. Premium and Essential are positioned as cheaper access points for people who don’t need everything.
What do you get for paying more?
Ultimate’s price goes up, but you now get Fortnite Crew and access to Ubisoft+ Classics.
- Fortnite Crew bundled with Ultimate
- Ubisoft+ Classics library included
- Microsoft targets 75+ day-one games each year
Bundling Fortnite Crew effectively adds a rolling battle pass and monthly cosmetics to your subscription, which will matter to anyone still dropping on the Island. Ubisoft+ Classics brings a rotating vault of older hits — handy while you wait for the next big first-party drop. Microsoft also calls out an aggressive cadence of day-one titles to keep Ultimate feeling “busy” all year.
New games added today
Short version: A long list lands immediately, with a heavy dose of Ubisoft. Highlights include Hogwarts Legacy, Assassin’s Creed entries, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Diablo IV, and Frostpunk 2 across the tiers.
- Ultimate: Hogwarts Legacy; multiple Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry titles; Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown; Skull and Bones; Rainbow Six Extraction; The Crew 2; and more
- Premium: Diablo IV, classic Fallout and Warcraft entries, Frostpunk 2, Hellblade 2, Cities: Skylines II, Manor Lords, and others
- Essential: Hades, Cities: Skylines Remastered, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, and Disney Dreamlight Valley
Expect dozens of Ubisoft catalogue drops across cloud, PC, and console. It’s a smart way to bulk up value on day one of a price rise. Still, the additions skew older, so don’t expect every current blockbuster to appear overnight.
How this lands in the UAE
No official AED pricing yet; expect local adjustments.
- Rough guide: $29.99 ≈ AED 110 (not official)
- Regional stores sometimes price below straight FX
- Family accounts and retail codes can alter effective cost
Microsoft often sets regional prices to match local buying power. So treat the AED figure as guidance only. If you’re gaming on handheld PCs like the ROG Ally, Ultimate’s cloud and PC access can still be decent value if you play across platforms.
Should you upgrade, downgrade, or cancel?
Stick with Ultimate if you’ll use Fortnite Crew, cloud/PC access, and plan to sample lots of day-ones. Try Premium if you want a bigger library without the top-tier perks. Go Essential if you just want a cheap way in.
If you were already on Ultimate and play Fortnite or jump between console, PC and cloud, the extras may offset the hike. If not, Premium is the sensible middle for single-platform players. Essential is now a budget door into a smaller library — fine for casual Xbox nights. All three still benefit from periodic first-party drops; just remember day-one volume is promised mainly around Ultimate.
