The Xbox Game Pass price hike was just recently announced by Microsoft. This isn’t a normal price hike as the gaming giant increased the subscription cost by 50 percent for Game Pass Ultimate. 14 months ago, it would have cost only $17 to buy, and now you would have to pay $30 a month.
The day one releases have also been moved to only the ultimate tier, which has attracted massive controversy. However, in a time like this, a particularly famous retailer, GameStop, is doing what is best for the fandom. The retailer is still selling the ultimate tier for the old price, $20 online and in-store.
Not only that, but there are many other online platforms that are offering the subscription for a lower price.
Retailers Are Fighting Back For The Fans
We will continue to sell Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $19.99/month in-store and online. pic.twitter.com/EAPGaud7cY
— GameStop (@gamestop) October 1, 2025
GameStop is one of the biggest retailers in the gaming industry, which is why it’s so surprising to see it selling Game Pass Ultimate for $20. On X (formerly known as Twitter), GameStop mentioned that it will continue to sell the Ultimate tier for $19.99 a month.
We will continue to sell Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $19.99/month in-store and online.
-GameStop
However, GameStop isn’t the only retailer where you can find this subscription service for cheaper. There are actually many more. On Amazon, you can still buy the ultimate tier for the old price. You can also buy the three-month code and stack it up to a total of 12 months. The price for now is also the same at Walmart, Best Buy, and Target.

There are platforms where you can get the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for even cheaper. On G2A and Loaded (formerly known as CDKeys), the subscription service costs less than $20. On the former, you can get it for $18.34, and on the latter, it would cost around $15.26.
So, if you are still willing to buy the subscription service for the old price, there are many ways to do so. However, do note that you can’t stack the subscription on both platforms.
Game Pass Ultimate Is Still Worth It – Just Don’t Buy It from Microsoft

The ultimate tier is still worth buying if you can get it for $20 or less, which you can. The majority of the fandom has criticised the company for this decision. However, they can now buy the subscription for cheaper from other storefronts.
The ultimate tier does offer a lot of perks and day one releases, but paying $30 for a month doesn’t sit right with many. The controversy and backlash are massive proof of that. Many even rushed to cancel their subscription following the price hike, causing the site to crash.
Nonetheless, if you still want to enjoy the perks of the ultimate tier for the same price, you can do so.
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Obaid Ur Rehman is a lifelong gaming enthusiast with a deep passion for writing about video games. While he enjoys all genres, he specializes in RPGs and Soulslike titles. After tackling some of the toughest bosses, he often unwinds with a cozy game to relax. Outside of gaming, Obaid enjoys watching anime, bingeing TV series, or staying active at the gym.