Xbox Game Pass: what it is, how it works, and how to get started

By Luke Albigés,

If you're new to the Xbox family, welcome! You'll likely have heard talk of Xbox Game Pass and how it's "the best deal in gaming" — if you're looking to get started with the service, here's everything you need to know.

Xbox Game Pass is one of the main attractions of owning and playing on an Xbox console, and the subscription service offers a huge amount of games that you can play how and when you like. For anyone new to Game Pass, let's break down exactly what it is, how it works, what you get, and which version of the service might be best for you.

xbox game pass starter guide

What is Game Pass?

Game Pass is Microsoft's subscription-based game library, offering players access to a vast catalogue of hundreds of titles across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. It comes in three flavours: standard Xbox Game Pass gets you access to the full console library, PC Game Pass grants the PC collection, while Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers both of the above, in addition to a host of extra benefits such as access to the full EA Play library for even more games, Xbox Live Gold for online play, Xbox Cloud Gaming support for many of the console Game Pass titles, monthly perks and rewards across loads of popular games and services, and more. New subscribers can try out Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from as little as $1 for the first month, giving you plenty of time to get to grips with the service yourself... and, of course, to play loads of great games!

Ultimate 1 Month

Ultimate 1 Month

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes over 100 high-quality games for console, PC, phones and tablets, all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold, and an EA Play membership, all for one low monthly price. Play together with friends and discover your next favorite game. See more below.

After any promotional period, subscription continues to be charged at the then-current regular price (subject to change), unless cancelled. Plus applicable taxes.

Joining Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will upgrade your remaining Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass for Console or Xbox Game Pass for PC time into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for the same amount of time, up to 36 months. All conversions are final. See xbox.com/gamepass for details.

See Xbox Game Pass Ultimate terms and details in the Product Description below.


How does Game Pass work?

It's very simple. Once you've signed up for whichever tier you think is right for you — more on that below — all you need to do is navigate to the Xbox Game Pass library on your console, PC, mobile device, or browser. On an Xbox console, you can either do this through the dedicated Xbox Game Pass app, or from your My Games & Apps option on the dashboard, where you can scroll down to 'Full Library' then tab across to the Xbox Game Pass section to see all of the games that are currently available. From here, you can then simply select and download anything that takes your fancy — Ultimate subscribers will also have the option to stream many of the games via Xbox Cloud Gaming rather than installing them, which can save on hefty install sizes, although cloud gaming does require a pretty fast internet connection for the best experience and is not yet available in all regions.

xbox game pass starter guide

Which version of Game Pass should I get?

A fine question. While Ultimate isn't that much more expensive than standard Xbox Game Pass, the key factor will likely be how much use you are likely to get out of the extra benefits of Game Pass Ultimate. For starters, if you are planning on playing games online with friends or against other players around the world, bear in mind that you will need Xbox Live Gold to do so (with the exception of free-to-play Xbox games like Fortnite and Warzone), which is included in the higher cost of Ultimate. You'll also need Ultimate if you want to use Xbox Cloud Gaming to stream Game Pass titles to any supported device, which may or may not be relevant or useful to you, depending on your circumstances. Finally, there's EA Play to consider, which adds even more value to Game Pass Ultimate by letting you play huge hits like FIFA, Mass Effect, Battlefield, and more as part of your Ultimate subscription, although note that new releases aren't added to EA Play on day one and tend to arrive six months or so after release, unlike first-party games in Game Pass. If any of those seem like things you would want or need (or indeed if you'd simply like the luxury of being able to play PC Game Pass titles as well), Ultimate is probably going to end up worth it. Otherwise, you'll likely be fine with the standard service, which works out a little cheaper.

Console 1 Month

Console 1 Month

Play over 100 high-quality games on Xbox console for one low monthly price. With games added all the time, you’ll always have something new to play. Terms apply. See description below.


What games are available with Game Pass?

Too many to easily mention here, put it that way... for newcomers, our guide to the best games on Game Pass should give you plenty to get you started. If you want to go deeper, we have a full list of Xbox Game Pass games you can pore over to see the full extent of the vast library. Also, in case you didn't know, first-party Microsoft releases are added to Game Pass at launch, meaning you'll be able to play the likes of Starfield, Redfall, Minecraft Legends, and loads more in 2023 on the day they come out, purely with a Game Pass subscription. Pretty neat, right?

xbox game pass starter guide

How many games can I download with Game Pass?

As many as you like — that's the beauty of the service! There are no limits on the number of games you can download and/or play, nor on how long you can play them for. As long as a game remains part of the Game Pass library, you're free to download and play it at your leisure.

Do games leave Game Pass, then?

Sadly, yes. With the exception of most first-party Microsoft games, which tend to stay in Game Pass indefinitely (and only leave rarely due to things like licensing deals expiring), most games added to Game Pass are only available for a certain amount of time. Typically, this is around 12-18 months, so plenty of time to enjoy them, and many stay in the service for a good bit longer, too. Also, new games are added to the service on a regular basis to replace those that are removed, leading to a constant rotation that should mean you always have something new to play — keep an eye on TrueAchievements for up-to-the-minute news on what games are coming and going each week, and check out our handy list of all the confirmed games coming to Game Pass to see what the future holds for the service!

Hopefully if you're new to Xbox, this whistle-stop tour of all things Xbox Game Pass will have been of some use to you. Happy gaming, and remember to keep an eye on TrueAchievements for all the latest Game Pass news and info!
Luke Albigés
Written by Luke Albigés
Luke runs the TA news team, contributing where he can primarily with reviews and other long-form features — crafts he has honed across two decades of print and online gaming media experience, having worked with the likes of gamesTM, Eurogamer, Play, Retro Gamer, Edge, and many more. He loves all things Monster Hunter, enjoys a good D&D session, and has played way too much Destiny.