Everything You Need To Know About Xbox Game Pass

Describing Xbox Game Pass as “the Netflix of video games” is already a tired comparison, but frankly, it’s also a perfect summation of how the service works. A monthly subscription nets you digital access to a hefty library of games ranging from indie sensations to triple-A titles, with the only real limitations being your hard drive space, download times, and the catalog itself (which consists of hundreds of games as we speak).

But like any recurring expenditure, it makes absolute sense to want to know everything there is to know about the service before committing your hard-earned dollars, and to stay on top of the latest developments once you have. Here, we’ll tell you everything you need to know — from the pricing structure and subscription options to the latest and greatest games to be added to its expansive selection.

Note that this article does not currently cover Game Pass for PC.

The process is pretty straightforward, but there are several avenues available, including:

The first (and most common) way is to sign up directly from your Xbox One console, either via a promotional tile on your home screen or by locating it in the Subscriptions section of the Microsoft store.

Navigate to the Microsoft Store.
Select the "Subscriptions" tab (usually located in the topmost group of tiles).
Select the Game Pass tab and proceed as instructed.

Pre-paid codes can also be purchased from retail outlets like GameStop, Best Buy, and the like. After obtaining your code, whether digitally or via a prepaid card:

Navigate to the Microsoft Store on your console.
Select the "Redeem" option, either from the menu on the left-hand side of your screen or from the "Subscriptions" tab.
Enter your code and enjoy!

To sign up directly from your web browser or mobile device, you can visit the official Xbox website right here and select the plan you’re interested in. It’s as simple as signing in and following the prompts provided!

If you need to bow out of an existing subscription, it’s easy to do so right from your console.

Navigate as follows from your Home Screen: Settings > Account > Subscriptions
Select your Game Pass subscription.
Select "View and manage subscription," this will launch Microsoft Edge and load you into your Microsoft account page. Alternatively, you can simply log in to your Microsoft account from your device and browser of choice. Steps four and five remain the same regardless.
Under subscriptions, select "Manage." Under Game Pass/Game Pass Ultimate, select "Manage." Then click on "Cancel Subscription."
You will be given the option to "Turn off recurring billing," which is exactly what you're wanting to do.

Game Pass has three different plans that have multiple subscription models, so there’s something for everyone when it comes to what you’re wanting to get out of the service.

Recurring Subscription: $9.99/mo
3-Month Code: $29.99/mo
6-Month Code: $59.99/mo

The core Game Pass model, as one may guess from the tin. The basic Game Pass provides access to a lightly rotated selection of Xbox console games, as well as some member-specific discounts.

Recurring Subscription: $14.99/mo*
3-Month Code: $44.99

Game Pass Ultimate is the premier and all-inclusive Game Pass experience. It essentially includes the core Xbox Game Pass, Game Pass for PC, and Xbox Live Gold** in one tidy package.

Ultimate also includes:

Access to the games available on EA Play (EA's own subscription-based service)
Member perks that manifest as in-game content and special offers
The ability to stream games to your Android phone or device (now in beta)
Exclusive discounts and more!

*New subscribers can currently enjoy their first month for just $1.

** Includes all associated benefits, such as Games With Gold. Remaining Xbox Live Gold membership months are converted into Game Pass Ultimate at a reduced conversion ratio.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members also get access to a variety of perks — special offers and bits of exclusive in-game content that rotate out from month to month. They’re time-limited, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the selection to ensure that you don’t miss out!

Current as of August 1st, 2021

August 2, 2021 – Apex Legends – Protocol 3 Weapon Charm
August 3, 2021 – Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis – July Member Monthly Bonus
August 4, 2021 – NBA 2K21 – NBA 2K21 MyTEAM Bundle
August 10, 2021 – World of Tanks – Might and Metal Pack
August 23, 2021 – Super Animal Royale – Founder’s Edition Pack
August 25, 2021 – DIRT 5 – Power Your Memes Pack
August 31, 2021 – Warframe – Excalibur Jade Bundle
September 20, 2021 – SMITE x Stranger Things – Step into the Upside Down
September 29, 2021 – Black Desert – Special Gift Bundle
September 30, 2021 – Disney+ – 30 day trial
September 30, 2021 – Spellbreak – Chapter 3 Pass
October 26, 2021 – World of Warships: Legends – Navy of the Realm
May 3, 2022 – Spotify Premium – 4 months of ad-free music

Current as of August 1st, 2021

You could always check out our master list for the best games currently on Game Pass, but if you're looking for a particular style or genre, check these curated lists to get an idea of what you should play next.

Alien: Isolation
ARK: Survival Evolved
The Ascent
Astroneer
Atomicrops
Banjo Kazooie: NnB
Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Tooie
The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered And Resnarkled
The Bard's Tale IV: Director's Cut
The Bard's Tale Trilogy
Batman: Arkham Knight
Battle Chasers: Nightwar
Battlefield 1943
Battlefield 3
Battlefield 4
Battlefield Bad Company 2
Battlefield: Bad Company
Battlefield 1
Battlefield Hardline
Battlefield V
Battletoads
Beholder Complete Edition
Bejeweled 2
Bejeweled 3
Black Desert
BLACK
Blair Witch
Bleeding Edge
Blinx: The Time Sweeper
Bloodroots
Bridge Constructor Portal
Brütal Legend
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling
Burnout Paradise Remastered
Call of the Sea
Carrion
Carto
The Catch: Carp & Coarse Fishing
Celeste
Children of Morta
Cities: Skyline – Xbox One Edition
ClusterTruck
Code Vein
Conan Exiles
Control
Costume Quest 2
Crackdown 3
Cricket 19
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
Cris Tales
CrossCode
Crysis
Crysis 2
Crysis 3
Cyber Shadow
Dante's Inferno
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan
Darkest Dungeon
Darksiders Genesis
Day of the Tentacle Remastered
Day Z
Dead by Daylight: Special Edition
Dead Cells
Dead Space
Dead Space 2
Dead Space 3
Dead Space Ignition
Deep Rock Galactic
Descenders
Desperados III
Destiny 2
Destroy All Humans!
Dirt 5
Dishonored 2
Dishonored: Death of the Outsider
Dishonored Definitive Edition
Disneyland Adventures
Don't Starve: Giant Edition
Donut County
DOOM (2016)
DOOM: 1993
DOOM 3
DOOM 64
DOOM Eternal
DOOM II
Double Dragon Neon
Double Kick Heroes
Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age 2
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Quest Builders 2
Dragon Quest XIS: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition
Drake Hollow
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance
EA Sports FIFA 20
EA Sports Rory McIlroy PGA Tour
EA Sports UFC
EA Sports UFC 2
EA Sports UFC 3
Eastshade
eFootball PES 2021
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
The Elder Scroll IV: Oblivion
Elite Dangerous
Empire of Sin
Enter the Gungeon
The Evil Within
The Evil Within 2
F1 2019
Fable Anniversary
Fable II
Fable III
The Falconeer
Fallout 3
Fallout 4
Fallout 76
Fallout: New Vegas
Farming Simulator 19
Fe
Feeding Frenzy
Feeding Frenzy 2
FIFA 19
FIFA 21
Fight Night Champion
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age
Five Nights At Freddy's
Five Nights At Freddy's 2
Five Nights At Freddy's 3
Five Nights At Freddy's 4
Football Manager 2021 Xbox Edition
For Honor
Forager
Forza Horizon 4
Forza Motorsports 7
Frostpunk: Console Edition
Full Throttle Remastered
Fuzion Frenzy
Gang Beasts
The Gardens Between
Gears 5
Gears of War
Gears of War 2
Gears of War 3
Gears of War 4
Gears of War Judgment
Gears of War Ultimate Edition
Gears Tactics
Genesis Noir
Goat Simulator
Going Under
Golf With Your Friends
Gonner2
Grand Theft Auto V
GreedFall
Grim Fandango Remastered
Grounded (Game Preview)
Guacamelee! 2
Halo 5: Guardians
Halo Wars 2
Halo Wars: Definitive Edition
Halo: Spartan Assault
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Haven
Heavy Weapon
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Hello Neighbor
Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition
Hotshot Racing
Human Fall Flat
Hypnospace Outlaw
Ikenfell
Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars
Injustice 2
It Lurks Below
Jetpac Refuelled
Joy Ride Turbo
Jurassic World Evolution
Just Cause 4
Kameo
Katana Zero XB1
Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition
Killer Queen Black
Kingdom Hearts III
Knights And Bikes
Knockout City
Last Stop
Lethal League Blaze
Limbo
The Little Acre
Lonely Mountains: Downhill
The Long Dark
Madden NFL 19
Madden NFL 20
Madden NFL 21
Maneater
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
Mass Effect
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect: Andromeda
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries
Medal of Honor Airborne
The Medium
The Messenger
Microsoft Flight Simulator: Standard Edition
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Minecraft
Minecraft Dungeons
Mirror's Edge
Mirror's Edge Catalyst
MLB The Show 21
Monster Hunter: World
Monster Sanctuary
Monster Train
Moonlighter
Morkredd
MotoGP 20
Mount & Blade: Warband
My Time At Portia
Narita Boy
NBA 2K21
NBA Live 19
Need For Speed Rivals
Need For Speed
Need For Speed Heat
Need For Speed Payback
Neon Abyss
Neoverse
New Super Lucky's Tale
NHL 20
NHL 21
NHL 94 REWIND
NieR:Automata BECOME AS GODS Edition
Night in the Woods
No Man's Sky
Nowhere Prophet
Octopath Traveler
Omno
Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Outer Wilds
The Outer Worlds
Outlast 2
Outriders
Overcooked! 2
Pandemic: The Board Game
PAYDAY 2: Crimewave Edition
Peggle
Peggle 2
Perfect Dark
Perfect Dark Zero
PHOGS!
Pikuniku
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Ultimate Edition
Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition
A Plague Tale: Innocence
Planet Coaster: Console Edition
Plants Vs. Zombies
Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare
Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid
Prey
Project Winter
Psychonauts
Quantum Break
RAGE
RAGE 2
Rain on Your Parade
Raji: An Ancient Epic
Rare Replay
ReCore
Red Dead Online
Remnant: From the Ashes
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard
River City Girls
Rocket Arena
Rush: A DisneyPixar Adventure
Ryse: Son of Rome
ScourgeBringer
ScreamRide
Sea of Solitude
Sea of Thieves
Second Extinction (Game Preview)
Secret Neighbor
Shadow Warrior 2
The Sims 4
Skate 3
Slay the Spire
Slime Rancher
Sniper Elite 4
SnowRunner
SOULCALIBUR VI
Spiritfarer
SSX
Star Renegades
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Star Wars Battlefront
Star Wars Battlefront II
Star Wars Squadrons
State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
State of Decay: Year-One
Stealth Inc. 2: A Game of Clones
STEEP
Stellaris: Console Edition
Stranger Things 3: The Game
Streets of Rage 4
Streets of Rogue
Subnautica
Sunset Overdrive
SUPERHOT: Mind Control Delete
Supraland
The Surge 2
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition
Tell Me Why: Chapters 1-3
Terraria
Tetris Effect: Connected
theHunter: Call of the Wild
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales
Titanfall
Titanfall 2
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Deluxe Edition
Torchlight III
Totally Accurate Battle Simulator (Game Preview)
Totally Reliable Delivery Service
Touhou Luna Nights
The Touryst
Trailmakers
Train Sim World 2020
Tropico 6
Two Point Hospital
UFC 4
UnderMine
Undertale
Unravel
Unravel Two
Unruly Heroes
Unto the End
Viva Piñata
Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier – The Complete Season
The Walking Dead: Michonne – The Complete Season
The Walking Dead: Season 2
The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season
Warhammer: Vermintide 2
Wasteland 2: Director's Cut
Wasteland 3
Wasteland Remastered
A Way Out
We Happy Few
What Remains of Edith Finch
The Wild At Heart
Wilmot's Warehouse
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
Wolfenstein: Youngblood
World War Z
Worms W.M.D.
Wreckfest
Xeno Crisis
Yakuza 0
Yakuza 3 Remastered
Yakuza 4 Remastered
Yakuza 5 Remastered
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Yakuza Kiwami
Yakuza Kiwami 2
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
The Yakuza Remastered Collection
Yes, Your Grace
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
Zombie Army 4: Dead War
Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection
Zuma
Zuma's Revenge

Lemnis Gate – August 3rd, 2021
Hades – August 13th, 2021
Psychonauts 2 – August 25th, 2021
Aragmami 2 – September 17th, 2021
Back 4 Blood – October 12th, 2021
Forza Horizon 5 Standard Edition – November 9th, 2021
STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl – April 28th, 2022

Grand Theft Auto V

Halo Infinite
As Dusk Falls
Avowed
Fable
Forza Motorsport
The Gunk
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis
State of Decay 3
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Art of the Rally
Astria Ascending
Backbone
Boyfriend Dungeon
Craftopia
Dead Static Drive
Edge of Eternity
Hello Neighbor 2
Library of Ruina
Little Witch in the Woods
Moonglow Bay
Nobody Saves The World
Recompile
Sable
She Dreams Elsewhere
Undungeon
Way to the Woods

You will lose access to that game. However, your saved data and progress should remain intact. Game Pass subscribers will also frequently have the benefit of purchasing games leaving the service with an exclusive discount. So if your new favorite game is making an exit, you can still buy it permanently while saving some money.

Game Pass quests are essentially achievements that generate Microsoft rewards points. The tasks range from earning a specific achievement within a game to simply booting up a Game Pass game on a daily basis. Microsoft rewards points can be cashed in for gift cards, Microsoft store credit, or if you save enough, additional free months for your Game Pass subscription.

The “Quests” panel can be accessed from your Game Pass menu.

Depends on the context. You can share it across accounts on your home console.

Yes. Microsoft offers a “Buy as Gift” option on its website.

When you activate a Game Pass Ultimate subscription while your Xbox Live Gold subscription is live, your remaining Xbox Live Gold subscription is converted into Game Pass Ultimate via a conversion ratio. This is particularly handy when taking advantage of the initial $1 entry fee, as your remaining Xbox Live Gold months are converted at no additional charge. However, keep in mind this only applies to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and not Xbox Game Pass.

NEXT: Xbox Game Pass is a Great Option When in a 'Gaming Funk'

Original Article

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