We saw plenty of deals on Xbox consoles throughout the holiday shopping season, which means you may have been lucky enough to unwrap one on Christmas morning. And the best way to make the absolute most of your new console without breaking the bank is a Game Pass subscription. Giving you access to hundreds of excellent games, CNET reviewer Dan Ackerman already called it the “best content deal in gaming” — and there are a few places you can score a membership for less right now.
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If you’re a new subscriber, it’s important to note that there are several different Game Pass memberships to choose from. If you’re not sure which subscription is right for you, CNET is here to help you find exactly what you’re looking for at a great price. Max McHone is one of our dedicated deals writers (and an avid gamer), with years of experience helping readers make the most of their budgets. Below, he and other members of our deals team have broken down the key differences between the membership tiers and rounded up the best Game Pass deals currently available to help you choose the right plan and get signed up for less.
We’ll continue to update this page as bargains come and go, so be sure to check back often for the best prices available.
What is the best Game Pass deal right now?
Even at $20 per month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is already the “best content deal in gaming.” And right now you can score a three-month subscription for just $29 at CDKeys. That’s a 51% discount that drops the cost down to just under $10 per month. This deal is available to both new and existing subscribers, and you can stack it up to five times for serious savings.
Best Xbox Game Pass deals
Unlike the comparable subscriptions for PlayStation, there’s no official annual membership plan. Deals directly from Xbox turn up occasionally, but they’re usually just for new subscribers. However, both new and existing subscribers can score some savings through third parties with a little digging right now. To help you save some cash each month, we’ve rounded up some of the best (and only) ones available right now below.
If you want to just go one month at a time, don’t bother with Microsoft’s official pricing. CDKeys has the same Xbox Game Pass Ultimate monthly subscription available but for around $9 cheaper. Get access to hundreds of games across console, PC and cloud along with Day 1 releases, discounts and an EA Play membership for 45% less. Why pay more?
This CDKeys deal is the best value you’ll find right now if you’re after a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Ultimate already saves you a little over $3 a month by bundling a Game Pass Core and Console membership, and this three-month subscription deal saves you $31 total. Existing or previous Game Pass subscribers can purchase these codes and stack them, so you can extend your membership and pay for several months ahead of time at a lower cost.
If you don’t fancy signing up for an annual subscription, there is also a three-month option so you can try it out for a bit. A Core subscription is typically $10 per month, but thanks to this CDKeys offer, you’ll be paying half that.
If you only want a basic Game Pass Core membership, you can score some big savings when you sign up through CDKeys. This deal gets you a 12-month subscription for $43, which costs less than $4 per month instead of the usual $10. That’s a massive 64% discount.
Game Pass Core vs. PC. vs. Standard vs. Ultimate
There are four different Game Pass subscriptions available. To help you choose the one that’s right for you, we’ve broken down what’s included in each tier and the usual monthly cost below.
Game Pass Core
Game Pass Core stays at $10 per month, or you can save a bit with a $25 three-month subscription. It covers what was previously included with a Gold subscription, including access to online multiplayer for console gamers. This new membership also includes access to a library of over 25 titles, including popular games like Doom Eternal and Fallout 4.
PC Game Pass
If you’re a PC gamer, PC Game Pass is still budget-friendly. It’s up from $10 to $12 per month, but it still includes access to a much larger library of hundreds of PC games and access to new games on the day they go on sale. This subscription also includes an EA Play membership, which adds a whole bunch more games to your library and provides some exclusive rewards and content for select EA titles.
Game Pass Standard
This new tier appears to be Microsoft’s replacement for the previous Game Pass Console membership. It costs $15 per month and offers perks such as select discounts, online multiplayer and other benefits of the Console tier. It doesn’t include games released on Day 1.
Game Pass Ultimate
Game Pass Ultimate is the best of all worlds. At $20 a month, an Ultimate subscription bundles the benefits of a Core and Standard membership. You’ll get access to the entire Game Pass library on your console, PC and mobile device, including access to select titles on Day 1, and you’ll have the ability to participate in online multiplayer as well.
You’ll also get perks like exclusive offers and in-game content, and it includes the EA Play subscription that you get with the PC membership. Like many people, our reviewer called Game Pass Ultimate the “best content deal in gaming” and it’s the best option out there for all-around gamers who don’t want to compromise.
How we choose Game Pass deals at CNET
Savings on Xbox gaming subscriptions can be pretty tough to come by. To help you get signed up for less, we scout the best deals being offered by Microsoft directly, as well as trusted third-party retailers like CDKeys. We evaluate the membership tier, subscription length and discount to help you get the best monthly price on the plan that works best for you.
Though a Game Pass Ultimate subscription is the most expensive option at $20 per month, our reviewer called it the “best content deal in gaming.” Having access to online multiplayer and a huge library of older titles is a great benefit, but the real value is being able to play new games as soon as they’re released. Considering many of these titles retail for $60–$70, it’s easy to get your money’s worth.
Microsoft occasionally offers deals for new members, so you should check the Game Pass home page if you’re a first-time subscriber. If there aren’t any deals available there, or you already have a Game Pass subscription, then CDKeys is your best option. It’s one of the only third-party retailers we trust for subscription deals, and it consistently has discounted Xbox memberships available. While they’re not nearly as frequent, Woot and StackSocial occasionally offer deals as well.
A Game Pass subscription is not a requirement for Xbox gamers, and there are hundreds of titles you can play without one. However, you will need a membership if you want to participate in online multiplayer. Access to online play is included in all tiers, starting at $10 per month for a Core membership.
The short answer is yes, Microsoft does allow you to stack multiple Game Pass subscriptions. Essentially, that means that you can purchase and add multiple discounted subscriptions to your account and get months (or years) of access for less. Just note that Microsoft caps prepaid subscriptions at 36 months total, after which any additional months you try to add to your account will not be credited.
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