The short version
Microsoft's U.S. plan listing, as captured in the source packet for this piece, shows the following:
- PC Game Pass is the PC-only plan. It lists 300+ games playable on PC only, with day-one releases and EA Play.
- Ultimate is the everything plan. It lists 500+ games on console, PC and supported devices, plus day-one releases, EA Play, Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics. It also includes cloud playtime and online console multiplayer.
- The US prices reported by Gamereactor are $13.99 a month for PC Game Pass and $22.99 for Ultimate. That is a $9 monthly gap, or $108 over 12 months. The yearly totals are $167.88 and $275.88, before taxes and promotions.
Those yearly figures are simple multiplication of the monthly prices. They are not annual-plan offers. Prices change, so confirm them on Xbox's live listing before you subscribe.
What Ultimate adds on top of PC Game Pass
| Feature | PC Game Pass | Ultimate |
|---|---|---|
| Day-one games (select titles; Microsoft's footnote excludes Call of Duty) | Yes | Yes |
| EA Play | Yes | Yes |
| Ubisoft+ Classics (50+ games) | No | Yes |
| Fortnite Crew | No | Yes |
| Cloud gaming | No | Yes |
| Xbox console library and online console multiplayer | No | Yes |
Microsoft's own footnote says cloud gaming is not included with PC Game Pass.
Two details are easy to misread.
EA Play is not an Ultimate perk. PC Game Pass has it too. Microsoft says PC Game Pass and Ultimate members can reach EA Play on Windows through the Xbox app. Gamereactor says access is through the EA app. Microsoft's pages confirm the inclusion but not that exact launch path, so check which app opens your games. EA Play Pro is not listed as a Game Pass benefit.
The library counts are not a subtraction problem. Ultimate's 500+ and PC Game Pass's 300+ describe different platform scopes. They do not mean Ultimate has 200 more PC games. Microsoft says titles, numbers and features vary over time, by region, plan and platform. Ultimate's console catalog is irrelevant to a Windows-only player, so the real PC-side extras are the partner and cloud benefits.
The cloud gaming caveat
Gamereactor's comparison notes the 15-hour allowance. The context around it matters most for anyone considering Ultimate mainly for streaming.
- In its September 3, 2026 Xbox Wire post, Microsoft said that beginning in November, Game Pass plans will include a set number of cloud hours each month. Ultimate gets 15 hours, Premium gets 10 and Essential gets 5.
- Microsoft said that until the change, eligible subscribers can stream without monthly hour limits. As of October 20, the cap is announced but not yet in force.
- Microsoft said it expects the change to affect 4% of Game Pass subscribers. It said the cost of providing cloud gaming grows as more people use it and play for longer.
- Subscribers who use all their included hours can buy more cloud playtime through the Xbox Store. Microsoft has not yet confirmed the price or size of those hour bundles. Microsoft says it will share pricing before the change takes effect.
- Players without Game Pass will also be able to buy cloud playtime hours and stream eligible games they own on supported devices. That arrives in November too.
Critics have been blunt. MassivelyOP's coverage called the cap a new limitation and argued that Microsoft's framing downplays the practical cost to subscribers. Microsoft itself acknowledges that for some players the result is a higher cost.
This changes the math for PC players. If you paid the $9 premium mainly to stream on a laptop, phone or TV, a 15-hour cap may not cover your habits. Fifteen hours is about 30 half-hour sessions, or seven to eight two-hour sessions. That is plenty for occasional try-before-you-install use and thin for a heavy streamer.
What was not verified
Gamereactor's comparison cites a 1440p cloud streaming ceiling and a full list of supported devices. Microsoft's U.S. plan pages in the source packet do not confirm the 1440p figure, so treat it as unverified. Microsoft's comparison page does list supported streaming devices:
- Apple and Android phones and tablets
- Samsung, LG and Amazon Fire TVs
- Meta VR headsets
- The web browser at xbox.com/play
The page also lists consoles, Windows PCs and handhelds as download devices. Microsoft adds that cloud playable games not in Game Pass are sold separately, and that regions and devices are limited.
Who should pick which
PC Game Pass fits you if:
- You play on a Windows PC and don't own an Xbox.
- You want day-one games and EA Play at the lower price.
- You don't plan to stream to other screens.
- The system requirement for the Xbox PC app on the Microsoft page is Windows 10/11, version 22H2 or higher.
Ultimate fits you if:
- You play on both a PC and an Xbox console, or want online console multiplayer.
- You want Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew, or both. Crew includes the current Battle Pass, OG Pass, LEGO Pass, Music Pass, Rocket Pass Premium and monthly V-Bucks. Gamereactor puts the V-Bucks at 1,000 a month.
- You value occasional cloud streaming and can live with the new monthly allowance.
Microsoft also sells Essential (50+ games, 5 cloud hours, no day-one releases) and Premium (200+ games, 10 cloud hours). Premium adds new Xbox-published games within a year of launch, not on day one. Neither is the natural home for a PC player who wants day-one releases.
The bottom line
For a PC-only player, Ultimate's extra $108 a year only pays off if you will use Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew or capped cloud play. If you won't, PC Game Pass delivers the core day-one and EA Play benefits for less. If you are weighing Ultimate for cloud gaming, wait for Microsoft's November pricing details before deciding. Don't treat any of the figures here as permanent.