Xbox Game Pass Ultimate vs Premium vs Essential: Which Should You Buy in the UK?
Xbox Game Pass has changed considerably over the years, and choosing the right plan is no longer as simple as deciding whether you play on Xbox or PC.
UK players can now choose between Xbox Game Pass Essential, Premium and Ultimate, while PC players also have the separate PC Game Pass subscription.
The cheapest option isn’t automatically the best value. The right choice depends on where you play, which games you want access to, whether you use cloud gaming and how important new releases are to you.
Here’s how the current Xbox Game Pass plans compare in the UK.
Xbox Game Pass UK Prices
| Plan | Monthly price | Cost over 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Game Pass Essential | £6.99 | £83.88 |
| Xbox Game Pass Premium | £10.99 | £131.88 |
| Xbox Game Pass Ultimate | £16.99 | £203.88 |
| PC Game Pass | £10.99 | £131.88 |
Prices and plan details checked 16 September 2026. Subscription prices and benefits can change.
Microsoft currently advertises Essential with more than 50 games, Premium with more than 200 games and Ultimate with more than 400 games. PC Game Pass offers more than 300 PC games.
You can also check the official Xbox Game Pass comparison for Microsoft’s latest plan details.
Still choosing your Xbox? Read our Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S UK comparison to see which console offers better value for you.
Xbox Game Pass Essential
Xbox Game Pass Essential is the cheapest of the main console Game Pass subscriptions.
It includes a library of more than 50 games, online console multiplayer, in-game benefits, Rewards and Xbox Cloud Gaming.
For somebody who mainly buys their own games but still wants online multiplayer and a smaller Game Pass library, Essential can cover the basics without paying for features they may rarely use.
However, its game library is considerably smaller than Premium or Ultimate, so players who regularly use Game Pass to discover and download games may find it restrictive.
How much cloud gaming does Essential include?
At the time of writing, Microsoft’s new monthly Xbox Cloud Gaming hour limits have not yet taken effect.
Microsoft has announced that from November 2026, Essential will include five hours of cloud gaming per month. Additional cloud playtime will be available to purchase once the included allowance has been used. Microsoft says purchasing options and availability may vary by market, with further details due before the change takes effect.
Xbox Game Pass Premium
Premium sits between Essential and Ultimate.
Microsoft currently advertises more than 200 games across supported devices. Premium also includes online console multiplayer, cloud gaming, in-game benefits and increased Rewards earning.
Premium receives selected new games within one year of release.
There is an important exception: Microsoft’s current terms exclude Call of Duty titles from that within-one-year promise. You therefore shouldn’t assume every major release will arrive on Premium on the same schedule.
From November 2026, Microsoft says Premium will include 10 hours of cloud gaming per month.
For many Xbox owners, Premium occupies an interesting middle ground: a considerably larger library than Essential without Ultimate’s £16.99 monthly price.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Ultimate is Microsoft’s most comprehensive Game Pass subscription.
It currently costs £16.99 per month in the UK and provides access to more than 400 games across supported console, PC and other devices.
Ultimate also includes EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics and Fortnite Crew, alongside online console multiplayer, cloud gaming, in-game benefits and additional Rewards benefits.
One of Ultimate’s major attractions is access to selected new games from day one.
However, Microsoft’s current wording refers to selected games and excludes Call of Duty titles from the current day-one promise. You shouldn’t assume every future release, particularly every Call of Duty title, is automatically guaranteed through the day-one benefit.
From November 2026, Microsoft says Ultimate will include 15 hours of cloud gaming per month.
If storage space is becoming a problem, see our Xbox Series X|S storage expansion options for ways to add more room for installed games.
What About PC Game Pass?
If you only play on PC, don’t automatically assume you need Ultimate.
PC Game Pass currently costs £10.99 per month and provides access to more than 300 PC games.
It also includes EA Play and access to selected new games on day one.
Microsoft’s current plan comparison does not list cloud gaming as a PC Game Pass benefit. Players who specifically want Xbox Cloud Gaming should therefore choose a plan that includes cloud access.
For somebody who plays exclusively on a gaming PC and doesn’t need Ultimate’s console and cloud benefits, PC Game Pass can make considerably more sense than paying £16.99 every month for Ultimate.
How Much Does Xbox Game Pass Cost Per Year?
If you stayed subscribed for 12 months while paying the current monthly price:
| Plan | Monthly | 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £6.99 | £83.88 |
| Premium | £10.99 | £131.88 |
| Ultimate | £16.99 | £203.88 |
| PC Game Pass | £10.99 | £131.88 |
That makes the difference between Essential and Ultimate approximately £120 per year.
Rather than looking only at the monthly difference, consider whether you’ll actually use the additional benefits enough over a full year to justify the extra cost.
Which Xbox Game Pass Plan Should You Choose?
Essential makes sense for players who primarily want online console multiplayer and are happy with a smaller Game Pass library.
Premium gives you a much larger game library while keeping the monthly price below Ultimate.
Ultimate provides the broadest package, including its larger library, EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew and access to selected new games on day one. The trade-off is the significantly higher £16.99 monthly cost.
PC-only players should consider PC Game Pass separately. If you don’t need the console and cloud features included with Ultimate, paying extra for them may offer little benefit.
Is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Worth £16.99 a Month?
It depends heavily on how you use Game Pass.
Someone regularly playing games from the catalogue, using EA Play, playing selected new releases and making use of Ultimate’s other included services could get substantially more from the subscription than somebody who spends most of their time playing one or two purchased games.
If you mainly need online console multiplayer, paying for Ultimate simply because it has the largest feature list may not make financial sense.
Similarly, if you only play on PC, compare PC Game Pass with Ultimate before spending the additional £6 each month.
Does Game Pass Include Online Multiplayer?
Essential, Premium and Ultimate include online console multiplayer.
This is important if you regularly play paid multiplayer games on an Xbox console.
Some free-to-play Xbox games do not require a paid Game Pass subscription for online multiplayer, so check the requirements of the games you actually play before subscribing purely for multiplayer access.
Can You Change Your Xbox Game Pass Plan?
Yes. Microsoft allows subscribers to manage subscriptions through their Microsoft account.
Before changing tiers, check how Microsoft will handle any remaining subscription time, billing dates or conversion of your existing membership.
Which Game Pass Has the Most Games?
Ultimate currently offers the largest overall Game Pass package, with Microsoft advertising more than 400 games.
Premium currently advertises more than 200 games, while Essential has more than 50. PC Game Pass separately offers more than 300 PC games.
Microsoft’s current Xbox Game Pass library shows the games presently available across its plans.
Raw library size isn’t everything. A smaller library containing the games you actually want to play can provide better value to you than hundreds of titles you never install.
Xbox Game Pass Essential vs Premium vs Ultimate: The Bottom Line
There isn’t one Game Pass tier that makes sense for every player.
Essential keeps the monthly cost down while providing online console multiplayer and a smaller game catalogue.
Premium substantially increases the available library without jumping all the way to Ultimate’s price.
Ultimate is the feature-heavy option for players who will genuinely use its larger catalogue and additional memberships and benefits.
And if you only play on PC, don’t overlook PC Game Pass. Paying for Ultimate features you don’t use simply increases the cost of your gaming setup.
Before subscribing, check Microsoft’s latest prices, game library and plan benefits because Game Pass changes regularly.
Research and prices checked: 16 September 2026.
Pixalrig
Pixalrig delivers practical UK gaming coverage, straightforward hardware advice and buying guides focused on genuine value.