Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is a New Monthly Subscription That Includes Xbox Live Gold

For $15 bucks a month you can have access to both Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold.

News by Matt Kim, News Editor

Updated on 16 April 2019

Microsoft is bundling its popular Xbox Game Pass with its online service Xbox Live Gold in a new package called Xbox Live Gold. The new membership will cost $14.99 a month and give players access to Game Pass' library as well as Xbox's online services.

Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft's Netflix-like subscription service where for $9.99 a month, players could have unlimited access to a library of games from both first-party and third-party developers. What's more, first-party Xbox games are available day one on Game Pass. The latter service will only become better over time once any of Microsoft's newly acquired studios starts releasing games.

Xbox Live Gold is Microsoft's long-running online subscription service for Xbox which gives players the ability to play online on the Xbox. Microsoft also recently began offering free monthly games for Xbox Live Gold, like PS Plus. While Xbox Live plans are sold at various price points, a year's worth of Xbox Live Gold usually retails for $60.

By combing the two subscription services, Microsoft is giving players access to both key online subscription services offered for the Xbox One. An Ultimate plan was previously rumored, but today's news on Inside Xbox confirms the new bundle.

Starting today, Xbox is inviting a limited number of Xbox Insider community members to join and test the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate service before it launches later this year. Microsoft says the bundle will be available where Xbox Game Pass is available.

Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. See our terms & conditions.

Matt Kim

News Editor

Matt Kim is a former freelance writer who's covered video games and digital media. He likes video games as spectacle and is easily distracted by bright lights or clever bits of dialogue. He also once wrote about personal finance, but that's neither here nor there.

Microsoft CEO Says It Will Consider Buying More Video Game Companies in the Future

Even after a big buy, Xbox could still keep growing.

Nvidia RTX 3080 Scalpers Who Used Bots Might Get Taken Down by Bots in Return

Those bids in the tens of thousands of dollars? They may be meant to oust the scalpers.

Destiny 2 Adds a Memorial Quest For a Former Developer

Bungie is honoring a coworker and friend today.

Naughty Dog Promises "Exciting Things" for the Newly Renamed Last of Us Day

"Outbreak Day" isn't a thing anymore, by the by.