# Xbox Cloud Gaming pricing (2026): plans, cost, and compliance

**Entry price:** $9.99/mo (Game Pass Essential). Among the 5 cloud gaming we track it is #3 cheapest of 5; median entry $9.99/mo.
**Domain:** xbox.com
**Free tier:** No · 1-day free trial
**Compliance:** HIPAA Not published · SOC 2 Not published · GDPR Not published
**Integrations:** EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew (Ultimate), Xbox app (Windows, iOS, Android), Microsoft Rewards
**Best for:** Console gamers wanting day-one Xbox first-party titles; Players who want a curated library without buying individual games; Mobile/tablet gamers streaming console titles via xCloud; EA Sports fans (EA Play bundled on Ultimate and PC tiers)
**Price tracked since:** June 2026

## Plans

| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Billing | Notes | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Game Pass Essential | $9.99 | — | flat | 50+ games, cloud gaming included (xCloud), online multiplayer. Renamed from 'Core' on October 1, 2025. No day-one titles. First month $1 promotional offer. Cloud gaming stream quality up to 1080p/60fps. | xbox.com |
| Game Pass Premium | $14.99 | — | flat | 200+ games, cloud gaming included, new Xbox-published titles within 1 year of launch (not day-one). Renamed from 'Standard' on October 1, 2025. First 14 days $1 promotional offer. | xbox.com |
| Game Pass Ultimate | $22.99 | — | flat | 500+ games, cloud gaming, day-one releases (excluding Call of Duty as of April 21, 2026), EA Play included, Ubisoft+ Classics. Raised to $29.99 on October 1, 2025; reduced to $22.99 on April 21, 2026 when day-one Call of Duty access was removed. | xbox.com |
| PC Game Pass | $13.99 | — | flat | 300+ PC games, day-one PC titles, EA Play on PC included. Does not include console cloud streaming (xCloud); PC game streaming requires a compatible device and the Xbox app. First 14 days $1 promotional offer. | xbox.com |

**Key features:** Curated game library included in subscription (no bring-your-own required); Day-one first-party Xbox releases on Ultimate and PC Game Pass; EA Play bundled into Ultimate and PC Game Pass (access to EA library + trials); Ubisoft+ Classics bundled into Ultimate; Cloud gaming (xCloud) on phones, tablets, TVs, browsers — no console required on Essential/Premium/Ultimate; Microsoft Rewards points multiplier (4x on Ultimate); Fortnite Crew bundle on Ultimate; 500+ game library on Ultimate tier.

**Plan limits:** No free tier — lowest paid tier starts at $9.99/mo; First month $1 promo on Essential; first 14 days $1 on Premium and PC Game Pass; Cloud streaming (xCloud) not included on PC Game Pass tier; Day-one Call of Duty access removed from Ultimate as of April 21, 2026; Cloud stream quality varies by tier: best quality on Ultimate; No announced monthly hour cap as of 2026-06-15.

## Cheaper cloud gaming alternatives

- [NVIDIA GeForce NOW](https://frontdeskreview.com/software/cloud-gaming/nvidia-geforce-now/) — from $0/mo
- [Amazon Luna](https://frontdeskreview.com/software/cloud-gaming/amazon-luna/) — from $0/mo

Sources: 1 · Last verified 2026-06-14
Provenance: Primary source: official Xbox Microsoft Store product page (xbox.com/en-US/games/store/game-pass-ultimate/cfq7ttc0khs0) fetched 2026-06-14 — rendered actual USD prices: Ultimate $22.99/mo, Premium $14.99/mo, Essential $9.99/mo, PC Game Pass $13.99/mo. Wikipedia Xbox Game Pass article (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_Game_Pass) corroborates the tier structure and confirms an April 21, 2026 price reduction for Ultimate and PC Game Pass; the pricing table in Wikipedia shows $9.99/$14.99/$22.99/$13.99 which matches live store values. Cloud gaming (xCloud) is available on Essential, Premium, and Ultimate tiers; PC Game Pass does not include console cloud streaming.
Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/software/cloud-gaming/xbox-cloud-gaming/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Xbox Cloud Gaming's entry plan was $9.99/mo as of 2026-06-14 — https://frontdeskreview.com/software/cloud-gaming/xbox-cloud-gaming/
License: CC BY 4.0. Price history: https://frontdeskreview.com/data/price-history.jsonl