Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Price Hike: How to Keep Paying the Old Rate (Legally in the U.S.)

As of October 1, 2025, Microsoft has raised the price of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in the U.S. from $16.99 to $26.99 per month. Unsurprisingly, gamers are frustrated. Even the mid-tier subscriptions have been restructured, with a new pricing grid that stings almost as much as movie theater snacks.

But here’s the silver lining: there’s still a legal and official way to keep enjoying the Ultimate plan at the old price. No VPN tricks, no region switching—just a quick detour through Amazon.

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The New Xbox Game Pass Plans in the U.S.

For years, the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate was one of the best deals in gaming at $16.99/month. Since October, Microsoft has rolled out three tiers instead:

• Essential – $9.99/month
  Includes 50+ games, online multiplayer, and cloud access. But no day-one releases or premium AAA library.
• Standard – $14.99/month
  Offers 200+ games, but still excludes day-one exclusives.
• Ultimate – $26.99/month
  The full experience: 400+ games, day-one exclusives, EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew membership (coming in November), and premium cloud streaming.

If you want the same Ultimate experience as before, you now need to pay $10 more every month. Or… you use the trick below.

The Workaround: Prepaid Xbox Game Pass Cards

Despite Microsoft’s price hike, you can still pay the old rate by purchasing prepaid Xbox Game Pass Ultimate cards.

Amazon U.S. is still listing them at the former prices (at least for now):

• 1-Month Ultimate Card – $19.99
• 3-Month Ultimate Card – $59.99

These prepaid cards unlock everything included in the Ultimate plan: over 400 games, day-one exclusives, EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, premium cloud streaming, and soon Fortnite Crew membership.

Once redeemed, they work as a regular Ultimate subscription—there’s nothing “limited” about them.

How to Redeem a Game Pass Ultimate Card (U.S.)

When you buy a prepaid card on Amazon (or another U.S. retailer), you’ll get a digital code by email. Activating it is simple:

Option 1: Redeem Online

1. Go to redeem.microsoft.com.
2. Log into your Xbox/Microsoft account.
3. Enter the code and confirm.

Option 2: Redeem on the Xbox App (PC or Console)

1. Open the Xbox app and click your profile picture (top right).
2. Go to Settings > Subscriptions.
3. Click View all plans.
4. Select Redeem a code.
5. Paste your prepaid code and hit confirm.

✅ Done—your Game Pass Ultimate is activated immediately with all perks included.

⚠️ Heads up: Once your prepaid time runs out, Microsoft will default you to the new $26.99/month rate unless you disable auto-renewal. Be sure to cancel before it renews if you want to keep saving.

Final Thoughts

The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price hike is a tough pill to swallow, especially for U.S. gamers who loved the subscription’s unbeatable value. But with prepaid cards still available at the old price, you can lock in savings and enjoy the full Ultimate experience—at least until retailers update their listings.

If you’re a Game Pass regular, now’s the time to stock up before Amazon adjusts its prices.