Looking to jump into the massive library of Xbox Game Pass without paying full price? From stacked conversion tricks to straight-up discounts, here’s a guide to the best ways to save on a subscription.
How to Get the Most Value from Xbox Game Pass
The greatest savings often come from leveraging Microsoft’s subscription conversion. This process allows you to convert a cheaper type of subscription, like Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Core time, directly into the more expensive Ultimate tier at a 1:1 ratio, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars.
1. The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Conversion Trick
This is the most powerful method for new members and those with expired subscriptions. By purchasing and stacking up to 36 months of Xbox Game Pass Core (the successor to Gold) and then purchasing a single month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the entire duration of your Core subscription is converted to Ultimate. This can drop the effective monthly cost to a fraction of the standard price.
2. Retailer and Third-Party Discounts
Keep an eye on major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Newegg, which often sell digital codes for Xbox Game Pass subscriptions at a discount. These can be for one-month or three-month bundles. These codes are a straightforward way to shave a few dollars off the regular monthly rate without any complex conversion process.
3. Special Promotional Offers for New Members
Microsoft frequently offers deep discounts to attract new users. It’s common to see a first-month subscription promo for just $1. This is an incredibly cheap way to test the full service. Be sure to check the current offers directly on the official Xbox website.
4. Free Trials and Bundled Subscriptions
Other opportunities can include free trial periods offered through partnerships with companies like Discord, YouTube, or specific hardware purchases. Additionally, some Microsoft services or new gaming peripherals sometimes come with a complimentary month of Game Pass, providing another avenue to access the service at no cost.
5. Consider Xbox Game Pass for PC
If you exclusively game on a computer and have no need for the console benefits or Xbox Cloud Gaming, the PC-only tier of Game Pass is a cheaper monthly alternative. While it doesn’t offer the same conversion trick as Ultimate, it still provides access to a vast library of games for a lower recurring price.
Upgrade Your Gaming for Less
A full-price subscription isn’t your only option. By using the conversion method, hunting for discounted codes, or taking advantage of promotional offers, you can secure access to hundreds of games for a significantly lower cost.