Since its debut over four years ago, Microsoft's Netflix-inspired Xbox Game Pass subscription service has developed a reputation amongst players for being a notoriously good value for the money. Not only does the instant library of games on offer give subscribers day-one access to the publisher’s internally developed hits like Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite, it also shines a welcome spotlight on indie and third party titles as well. For a relatively low price of entry, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC owners are spoiled for choice when it comes to what game they can dive into.
What makes Xbox Game Pass all the more impressive is the fact that Microsoft’s attention to detail, when it comes to options and accessibility, hasn’t been focused solely on what subscribers play either. Since June 2019, players have been able to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a twist on the service that comes with a range of exclusive features and quirks that aren’t available to those who opt for the regular subscription model.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s Price of Entry
What’s instantly apparent when comparing the two flavors of Microsoft's subscription service, is the simple fact that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs more than the standard subscription. Instead of paying a monthly fee of $9.99 like the basic console and PC versions of the service, Ultimate requires a premium entry fee of $14.99 a month instead. Looking at the additional features that come into the picture via the increased price makes it easy to say that the extra $5 is arguably worth it, particularly if a prospective subscriber is already heavily invested in Microsoft’s now cross-platform ecosystem.
Like its moniker suggests, subscribers that opt for the more expensive version of Game Pass get all of the benefits of the individual console and PC versions wrapped into one. Investing in the ultimate incarnation of Game Pass makes it possible for players to simultaneously access the platform on the Xbox One, Xbox Series consoles, and PC via Microsoft’s digital storefront.
If that wasn’t enough, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also combines the two with Xbox Live Gold for good measure. Beyond getting access to the monthly rotation of titles that Xbox Game Pass’ library has become famous for, subscribers also receive four extra free games per month, along with the ability to play multiplayer titles online. With Microsoft having resisted calls to make Xbox Live Gold free, it makes a lot of sense for players that are fond of online gaming to circumnavigate its $9.99 asking price via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s Game Library
Perhaps the biggest way in which Ultimate differs from the regular Game Pass subscription is through the library of titles, which is technically bigger than what’s on offer within the individual subscriptions. While the services might share a name, the console and PC versions of Xbox Game Pass actually differ slightly from one another when it comes to the games that are available.
Titles developed exclusively for the latter for example, like Age of Empires 4, are naturally only viewable, downloadable, and then playable if subscribers are logged into their PCs. While Ultimate doesn’t enable titles to be played on the opposite non-native platform, it does ensure that subscribers at least have the option to play them through one subscription if they’re set up from a hardware perspective.
While Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers don’t receive access to any titles that aren’t available through one of the two regular subscription models, they do get a number of free exclusive perks instead. These often take the form of in-game add-ons, consumables, and partner offers, that cycle in and out of the service from time to time. During October of this year, for example, Ultimate subscribers received three months of Discord Nitro for free, in addition to an Apex Legends weapon charm, and a free rental of The Cabin in the Woods.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s Cloud Gaming
Back in September 2020, Microsoft expanded Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s repertoire of exclusive features. In 26 countries across the globe, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers now get access to the publisher’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service. Similarly to Sony’s PlayStation Now, this cloud-powered service enables players to primarily stream a selection of games to their Android and iOS devices over the internet. While the library of supported titles is comparatively low by Xbox Game Pass’ regular standards, having launched with just 150 available, most have been optimized to ensure an overall smoother streaming experience.
Compared to the cloud offerings of Sony and Google, Xbox Cloud Gaming is still in its relative infancy. Tying the service to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate shows how committed Microsoft is to developing and making it work in the long run though. Features like touch controls have already been added to titles like Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, while subscribers can also additionally stream their games on PC alongside some impressive clarity boosting tools. Remote play between console and PC is also possible, while the ability to stream Xbox Series titles back to Xbox One is currently being beta tested.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s Bonus Subscriptions
Around the same time that Xbox Cloud Gaming made its debut, Microsoft added another exclusive benefit to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate that sets it even further apart from the regular subscription models. Thanks to a partnership with EA, anyone who subscribes to Microsoft's premium incarnation of the service now also gets access to the basic version of EA Play, at no additional cost. Buying into the publisher-specific service separately costs $4.99 a month, so the fact that it comes as standard for Ultimate subscribers is not an insignificant bundle.
Easily the biggest draw to EA Play is "The Play List," another Netflix-esque library that contains roughly 100 games from the publisher’s catalogue. While it can be argued that the selection available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate itself is already more than enough for any human to consume, expanding what’s available like this pushes things even further. In addition to all of these titles, subscribers are also entitled to a 10% discount on all of EA’s digital content, and can trial the publisher’s brand new games for up to 10 hours.