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

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.