Skip to content

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: how to get around the price increase with this little-known tip



Since October 2025, the Game Pass UltimateMicrosoft’s all-in-one service for console, PC and cloud gaming, saw its price rise sharply to $30/month in the United States. A 50% increase compared to the old rate of $20 which is causing many subscribers to cringe.

This price change concerns all new subscriptions, and also applies to automatic renewals. But faced with this increase, a smart solution exists: take advantage of prepaid codes at reduced prices, still available at certain resellers.

The Simple Trick: Buy Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Cards on Amazon

The method is simple, legal and risk-free: buy 3 month prepaid subscription cards on Amazoncurrently offered at $55 instead of $60. This price is equivalent to $18.33/monthwell below Microsoft’s new price.

This system works for new users as well as existing subscribers. As soon as a code is activated, he postpones the date of the next billingwithout canceling the current subscription.

Example: if you enter a 3 month code in October, you won’t pay anything until January.

Up to $420 in savings over 3 years with the right codes

This technique becomes even more profitable if you accumulate several codes at once. Game Pass Ultimate allows you to stack up to 36 months of subscriptionor 3 years. Here is an overview of the savings that can be made:

Duration Official price Amazon Price Savings
3 months $90 $55 $35
6 months $180 $110 $70
1 year $360 $220 $140
3 years (max) $1,080 $660 $420

Even if the Amazon price went back to $60, the savings would still be significant: $30 every 3 months, or $360 over 3 years.

Why this method still works

Microsoft has not yet aligned the price of prepaid cards with its new rates. Result: distributors like Amazon continue to sell their stocks at the old priceuntil further notice. According to GameSpot, Amazon has resisted similar increases in the past.

By 2023, the price of Game Pass had already increased, but Amazon was still selling cards at $45 for 3 months several weeks after the announcement. The same scenario seems to be happening again, and there is no guarantee that these offers will remain available for long.

An opportunity to seize before the big Game Pass releases

The timing of this offer is not insignificant. By the end of the month, several blockbusters are arriving in the Game Pass catalog:

  • Ninja Gaiden 4 – October 21
  • The Outer Worlds 2 – October 29
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 – November 14

So many highly anticipated titles that fully justify a subscription… especially at a reduced price.

Bonus: Xbox handheld consoles are ready for Game Pass

The offer becomes even more interesting with the recent release of the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X portable consoles, natively compatible with Game Pass Ultimate. Sold between $599 and $1,000these machines allow you to play the entire Xbox catalog without using a home console.