Be prepared: Xbox Game Pass is raising its prices today

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The promised price hike for Xbox Game Pass is finally upon us, with subscription costs set to go up today.

Starting today, Xbox Game Pass subscription prices will rise from $9.99/ £7.99 / AU$10.95 to $10.99 / £8.99 / AU$11.95. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will also be affected, with their costs rising from $14.99 / £10.99 / AU$15.95 per month to $16.99 / £12.99 / AU$18.95. Those with PC Game Pass subscriptions have been spared the price hike, as will those in Norway, Chile, Denmark, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia.

However, for those willing to act quickly, there is a way to circumvent the price rise. Amazon is currently selling Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time cards at lower, pre-price-hike costs. Amazon US is offering similar savings, with one-month Game Pass Ultimate membership codes going for $13.82. Three-month codes are also available on the US store for $41.66. Amazon UK is selling one-month membership cards for £10.99, with three-month cards going for £32.97. We're not sure how long these deals will last, though, so we recommend acting sooner rather than later.

Savvy investors can stack up to 36 months of prepaid Game Pass Ultimate membership on their accounts, so it's technically possible to avoid the price rise for three whole years.

Despite the price rises and the ongoing legal concerns about a Microsoft gaming monopoly, Xbox Game Pass remains one of the best subscription services out there, with a roster of the best Xbox Game Pass games that'll keep players satisfied for weeks at a time.

Microsoft is also set to increase the price of the Xbox Series X on August 1, with plans to increase the recommended retail price of the console from £449 / AU$749 (equivalent to $499) to £479.99 / AU$799.99 – an increase of 11%. That said, if you're in the market for an Xbox Series X, you may be able to get a great bargain by taking advantage of Amazon Prime Day Xbox Series X Deals when they come up around Amazon Prime Day 2023 from July 11-12.

With sales on the horizon, expect plenty of Prime Day gaming deals as well as specific price cuts such as Prime Day Xbox controller deals – both will be great means of saving money, and enjoying, the best Xbox Series X games for less.

Cat Bussell is a Staff Writer at TechRadar Gaming. Hailing from the crooked spires of London, Cat is an experienced writer and journalist. As seen on Wargamer.com, TheGamer.com, and Superjumpmagazine.com, Cat is here to bring you coverage from all corners of the video game world. An inveterate RPG maven and strategy game enjoyer, Cat is known for her love of rich narratives; both story-driven and emergent.

Before migrating to the green pastures of games journalism, Cat worked as a political advisor and academic. She has three degrees and has studied and worked at Cambridge University, University College London, and Queen Mary University of London. She's also been an art gallery curator, an ice cream maker, and a cocktail mixologist. This crash course in NPC lifestyles uniquely qualifies her to pick apart only the juiciest video games for your reading pleasure.

Cat cut her teeth on MMOs in the heyday of World of Warcraft before giving in to her love of JRPGs and becoming embedded in Final Fantasy XIV. When she's not doing that, you might find her running a tabletop RPG or two, perhaps even voluntarily.