Do it PS5 have an advantage over Xbox Series X And S regarding the current lineup and upcoming exclusive game titles? Perhaps. But the Xbox has a distinct advantage in itself Game Pass Subscription Option that allows Xbox owners to play 100+ games for a single flat fee billed monthly, quarterly, annually or even as part of the Xbox hardware purchase price.
It’s a lot, but the problem is that Microsoft has some confusing news about the Game Pass options available: there are three versions of the subscription, along with one separated called Xbox subscription Xbox Live Gold. Gold, on the other hand, is included in some versions of game passbut not others.
Need help untangling the differences? Continue reading.
Microsoft
Xbox Live Gold is the online subscription service that launched for the original Xbox in 2002 and allowed gamers to play multiplayer games online with voice chat. Since then it has offered other benefits such as special discounts and four free Xbox 360, Xbox One or Xbox Series games per month. Microsoft will stop listing Xbox 360 games on October 1 and says it has reached its limit of adding games from the older console to its catalogue. An Xbox Live Gold subscription is $10 per month (with discounts available if you pay for three, six, or 12 months in advance).
Adding to the nomenclature confusion, the online network was previously known as Xbox Live, but will soon change its name to “Xbox Network.” But it seems Xbox Live Gold is going nowhere.
Right now you need Xbox Live Gold to play any Online multiplayer games excluding certain free-to-play games such as Fortnite, Rocket League and Apex Legends.
But here’s the important takeaway: Xbox Game Pass (see below) includes Xbox Live Gold and also adds access to dozens of games. If you’re interested in gold, check out Game Pass first.
Receive price alerts for Xbox Live Gold
James Martin/CNET
Game Pass is Xbox’s all-you-can-eat gaming subscription that gives you full access to dozens of games for one monthly fee. It started in June 2017 with a limited edition catalog that was a mix of titles published by Microsoft (aka first party) and other publishers (third party). Over the years it grew to over 100 titles. Microsoft also sweetened the deal by offering every released game to be available on the service on the first day of its release. This includes games from the latest acquisition, ZeniMax Media, which includes such popular series as The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Doom, Wolfenstein, Dishonored, and Prey. Sniper Elite 5 and Pac-Man Museum Plus are two of the latest third-party games also coming to Game Pass on the day of their release. Microsoft is also trying to finalize its deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, which would add even more titles to Game Pass.
Xbox Game Pass has three tiers: Console, PC, and Ultimate. The first contains Xbox games only, the second is for Windows PC gamers, and the third covers both platforms. In addition, the PC and Ultimate tiers include access to EA Play, which consists of access to EA games, rewards, and other members-only content. A subscription usually costs $5 per month.
Game Pass Ultimate also offers access to Xbox Cloud Gaming (formerly known as xCloud), which streams certain titles to Android and iOS devices using a Bluetooth controller or touch controls, as well as streaming through supported internet browsers.
Receive price alerts for Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass tiers
|
Game Pass console |
GamePass PC |
Game Pass Ultimate |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Xbox Series games |
Yes |
NO |
Yes |
| computer games |
NO |
Yes |
Yes |
| Xbox Live Gold |
NO |
NO |
Yes |
| Discounts and perks for members |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| EAPlay |
NO |
Yes |
Yes |
| cloud gaming |
NO |
NO |
Yes |
| Monthly charges |
$10 |
$10 |
$15 |
Should I get Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass?
This depends on your gaming habits. Xbox Live Gold’s biggest selling point isn’t the free games, it’s the ability to play online. Are you someone who plays a few games online and only those games regularly? Then you want Xbox Live Gold.
On the other hand, if you want the equivalent of Netflix for video games, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is an easy choice. You have more than 100 games to choose from and play them on multiple devices. Bet on Xbox Live Gold and get tremendous value for $15 a month. Put another way, you can play dozens of games a year for the price of just three new console games purchased at retail ($60 times three, or $180 a year).
Xbox All Access is a monthly payment option for a new Xbox Series S or X. Customers can sign up for the plan to pay $35 per month for an Xbox Series X or $25 per month for an Xbox Series S . Both plans include 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. There are no upfront payments and 0% APR. Best Buy, GameStop, Microsoft Store, Target, and Walmart are all participants in the program, but the trick is to sign up when consoles are available. If you’re still looking for an Xbox Series X or S, we’ve got the latest restock updates for you.
Can I really play Xbox games on phones and tablets?
Yes, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members currently have access to the beta version of Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service, which allows them to play cloud-based Xbox games on Android devices. The games are streamed to the devices in real time via an app. And starting April 20th, some Ultimate members will be invited to try a limited beta of Cloud Gaming on Windows 10 PCs, iPhones and iPads, streaming via web browsers.
