With the subscription service offering huge games like Starfield, Lies of P and Texas Chainsaw Massacre the day they hit shelves, Xbox Game Pass is one of the most cost-efficient ways to play brand-new games on your Xbox console or PC. For a monthly fee, you can access an almost overwhelming library of games, including everything from vast 100-hour RPGs and cozy farming sims to nail-biting cinematic adventures and tactical strategy experiences.

But how much is that fixed cost? With Xbox recently sunsetting its Gold Membership and deciding to fully focus on Xbox Game Pass as its central subscription service, Game Pass’ plans and prices have changed. Essentially, Gold has rolled into Game Pass, with Microsoft adding more focused plans that allow you to pay for exactly what you want from Xbox’s online services.

With the likes of Forza Motorsport, Thirsty Suitors, and Cities Skylines 2 all hitting Game Pass over the next few months, let’s quickly run you through all of Game Pass’ membership plans so you can get stuck into some huge games without any of the hassle.

In total, Xbox Game Pass has four plans - Xbox Game Pass Core, Xbox Game Pass Console, Xbox Game Pass PC and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Below, we'll go through what each of these plans offers, the drawbacks and the price, so you can decide which works best for you. Note that most plans are exclusive to certain platforms, so make sure you’re buying the correct version of Game Pass depending on where you play.

The equivalent to an Xbox Live Gold Membership, Game Pass Core focuses entirely on offering online multiplayer on Xbox consoles. Included in the price is access to Xbox’s online multiplayer services and all the discounts and offers made available for members.

The Core plan doesn’t let you freely download titles from the full Game Pass library, but you will be able to access a slither of Game Pass’ offerings via a collection of over 30 games included in the membership price. Xbox has confirmed that the list will grow over time, with new games being added in the coming months. At the time of writing (September 2023), the list has a total of 36 games, including the likes of Doom Eternal, Gears 5, Power Wash Simulator, Dishonored 2, Fable Anniversary and Fallout 4.

If you’re just looking to play some multiplayer with friends online and aren’t too bothered about accessing the full Game Pass library, then this is the plan for you.

Xbox Game Pass Console is the flipside to Xbox Game Pass Core. You won’t be able to play online console multiplayer, but you will be able to freely download games from the console Game Pass library as well as utilize member discounts and offers.

With access to the Game Pass library, you’ll be able to play over 450 games, including Starfield, Grand Theft Auto 5, Halo Infinite, Lies of P, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Sea of Thieves and many more. This library is also frequently updated with brand new games that’ll be available to play with Game Pass the day they hit shelves, letting you enjoy the latest releases without paying full price. The main drawback is that you won’t be able to play most of these games online, with the plan not including access to Xbox’s online multiplayer services.

The Game Pass Console plan is best suited to those looking to play a vast range of single-player or local multiplayer games without diving into online elements. If you’re looking to have the full Game Pass library and online multiplayer, the better deal is Game Pass Ultimate, which includes both for $16.99.

Providing PC players with access to the Game Pass library, Xbox Game Pass PC is the plan for those exclusively interacting with Xbox’s services via their computer. The plan unlocks access to the PC Game Pass library as well as granting an EA Play Membership, where you can download titles like Fifa 23, Madden 23, the Sims 4 and Need for Speed: Unbound.

In terms of the differences between the console and PC games library, both lineups are largely very similar. There are a few console-exclusive titles, with games like Grand Theft Auto 5, UFC 4, the Fable series and Skate 3 purely available on Xbox platforms. But PC Game Pass has a few exclusives of its own, such as League of Legends, Valorant, Total War: Three Kingdoms and the Crysis trilogy.

This plan is best suited for exclusively PC players looking to bolster their library with some Xbox exclusives and third-party hits. Considering playing online on PC is free, you also won’t be missing out on many of the perks of upgrading to the pricier Game Pass Ultimate plan.

The most expensive plan of the bunch, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate aims to be a combination of all three of the previous plans with a few added extras sprinkled on top. After purchasing Ultimate for the month, you’ll gain access to online console multiplayer, both the console and PC Game Pass libraries, and an EA Play membership.

You’ll also get the same offers and discounts afforded to the three previous tiers, as well as the opportunity to partake in the Xbox Cloud Gaming beta. The latter allows players with a strong internet connection to stream games to their Xbox console, PC, phone or tablet via the cloud. This means you can play games on the go or enjoy next-gen exclusives like Starfield on an Xbox One console without having to upgrade to an Xbox Series X or S.

Game Pass Ultimate is the go-to package for those who frequently use Xbox’s services, especially as a console player. While there’s less incentive for PC-only users to upgrade from Game Pass PC, on a console, it offers a wide range of games and allows you to hop online with friends, making it the best deal for those wanting full access to everything Xbox has to offer.

Looking for more Xbox news and updates? Check out our recent breakdown of the full Xbox vs. FTC court document leak, or head over to our ranked list of the fifteen best Xbox Series X and S games you can play right now, which includes some of Game Pass’ biggest and best hits.

You can also check out our list of free Xbox games that don't require a subscription at all.