Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Best Xbox Game Pass deals: Upgrade to Game Pass Ultimate for cheap

If you’ve snagged yourself an Xbox Series X or Series S, then you’ll also want to snag a subscription to Xbox Game Pass, especially since it lets you get online and play multiplayer games. Unfortunately, much like the PS5, a subscription is needed to access online and multiplayer gaming, so if you do a lot of that, it’s absolutely mandatory. Luckily, there are some perks, which include access to a pretty sizeable game library. Granted, you aren’t always going to get the latest games, but if you don’t buy games often, having this option is great for a little bit of extra each month. Sony’s PS Plus service works in the same vein, but the difference is that there is also an Xbox Game Pass subscription service for PCs as well, so PC gamers can access the library.

Also, you may want to check out these great Xbox Series S and X deals while you’re here.

Xbox Game Pass Core

Xbox Game Pass Core's logo over a library of games.
Microsoft / Microsoft

Game Pass Core is the cheapest tier of Game Pass, but it still lets you access important features, including online multiplayer. Game Pass Core was launched with access to 36 games off the bat, and you can get exclusive discounts on certain downloadable games. If you’re on Xbox and need access online, this is the way to go.

That said, there are currently no solid Xbox Game Pass Core deals available.

Xbox Game Pass Standard

A tv shows the new Xbox Game Pass that comes to Samsung Gaming Hub soon.
Samsung / Microsoft

For just one more dollar per month, you can upgrade to the regular Game Pass subscription. This gives you access to over 100 games instead of the 36 on Game Pass Core. Some games will go on Game Pass right when they launch, meaning you’re essentially getting free access to a brand new game (well, minus the subscription fee). There is a PC-only version that is just $10 per month. There currently aren’t any major deals, but many new games come with several free months of Game Pass.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Promotional art for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Microsoft

Game Pass Ultimate is the full version of the subscription. Ultimate has everything the Core and Standard tiers have, plus some extra goodies. You get access to both the console and PC versions of Game Pass, and you can sync your saves between them. The biggest advantage is the inclusion of EA Play, which gives you access to EA’s library of games and pays for your subscription to their online service. Game Pass Ultimate also allows you to cloud-stream your games.

3-month subscription — $26 $58 55% off

What is Xbox Game Pass?

Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft’s new version of Xbox Live Gold. It’s a lot better than Live in many ways. Most importantly, you get access to online multiplayer on all of the plans. If you want to play co-op with your friends of compete against your enemies, you’ll have to get a Game Pass subscription. You also get something Xbox Live never gave you: free games. All of the Game Pass tiers give you access to some free games, but the better the tier, the more games you get. Game Pass Core is launching with 36 free games. The regular tier gets over 100 games, and you’ll get access to certain games the day they launch. Ultimate gets 100 games plus EA Play, which unlocks a ton more EA games. Ultimate also has some fancy features like cloud gaming and save syncing between devices.

Think of Game Pass as the video game equivalent of Netflix or Disney+. You get access to tons and tons of games for a really low price, but you’re at the mercy of whether Microsoft continues to host them or not. You won’t get any physical copies of the games. It’s still a great deal if you like to play a wide variety of games or want to try something out without dropping a full $70 on it.

Noah McGraw
Section Editor, Commerce
Noah is Digital Trend's Commerce Section Editor. His focus is on deals writing, and he has four years of experience searching…
The Alienware Aurora R16 is our “best gaming PC,” and it’s $400 off
Alienware Aurora R16 sitting on a coffee table.

If you think it's finally time for a gaming desktop upgrade and you're willing to spend some serious cash, you should set your sights on the Alienware Aurora R16. This configuration with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card, which is usually sold for $4,000, is on sale from Dell for $3,600. You'll be able to use the savings of $400 towards monitor deals to complete your PC gaming setup, but you need to hurry because the discount on this gaming PC isn't expected to last long.

Why you should buy the Alienware Aurora R16 gaming PC

Read more
The Dell G15 — our “best budget gaming laptop” — is $550 off
Dell G15 (2023) sitting on a coffee table.

Are you looking for gaming laptop deals that will give you the best bang for your buck? You're going to want to set your sights on the Dell G15. This configuration with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card is on sale with a $550 discount from Dell itself, slashing its price from $1,550 to $1,000. That's a relatively affordable price considering the power under this gaming laptop's hood, but you need to act fast if you want to take advantage of this offer as it may expire at any moment.

Why you should buy the Dell G15 gaming laptop

Read more
Upgrade to this Razer gaming keyboard while it’s on sale for only $100
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed keyboard product image.

Even the most expensive upgrade with gaming PC deals won't help you win if you're still using your old keyboard. You'll want to invest in an accessory like the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed gaming keyboard, and now's an excellent time because you can get it at 50% off from Razer itself. From its original price of $200, it's down to just $100, which is a steal price for this device. You're going to have to hurry if you want the $100 in savings though, as the offer may end at any moment.

Why you should buy the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed gaming keyboard

Read more