Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tip: Get 2 years of access for dirt cheap

For over 4 years, avid gamers have been in a position to entry a whole bunch of titles throughout PC and Xbox through Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription service—however you don’t need to pay full value. With just a few sensible strikes, you’ll be able to lock in a 52 % low cost on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for as much as two years.

(Note: This trick was final confirmed as engaged on 7/6/23.)

This deal isn’t fairly nearly as good as earlier than: Before July 6, 2023, you might lock as much as three years at 63 % off. When Xbox Game Pass Ultimate first launched, early adopters found that in the event you activated one month of Game Pass Ultimate on an account, it transformed current Xbox Live Gold and normal Xbox Game Pass subscriptions to Ultimate at a 1:1 price. Any pay as you go time as much as the utmost of three years obtained the improve.

However, with Microsoft’s price hike on Xbox Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate, this trick obtained nerfed. Currently, the conversion price is 3:2. You’ll now pay about $8.20 per 30 days utilizing this conversion hack. Not nearly as good as $5 per 30 days (the outdated deal), however nonetheless a large low cost nonetheless. The listing value for Ultimate is $17 per 30 days, and even normal PC Game Pass prices extra at $10 per 30 days.

Looking to load up on Xbox Live Gold at a reduction? Keep a watch out for gross sales at Newegg. The retailer drops the price of a 1-year subscription to $50 USD periodically. (You can set a deal alert for “xbox live” at Slickdeals.net for an e-mail or push notification of future offers.) But even on the common value of $60 USD per 12-month code, this hack is worth it.

So in the event you solely play on PC, you’ll nonetheless be forward, with limitless entry to a full vary of video games that features upcoming Halo, Gears of War, and different sport releases on PC from Microsoft, EA, Bethesda, and extra. The entry to console titles is simply a further perk.

Read on for a step-by-step information of how one can safe this deal, which incorporates recommendations on how one can maximize your financial savings.

!- News alerts -!

3/31/2022: Talk is swirling that Microsoft could remove Xbox Live Gold, which might kill this deal hack. A report from Brad Sams of Thurrott.com means that the demise of Gold might occur when Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard closes in 2023, if authorised by U.S. regulators.

How to transform Xbox Live Gold (or Xbox Game Pass) to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

The most simple description of what you’ll do is that this:

1. Buy Xbox Live Gold
2. Buy 1 month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
3. Agree to a conversion of your Gold and/or normal Game Pass subscription(s) to Game Pass Ultimate

However, you’ll be able to run into just a few pitfalls throughout this course of—particularly in the event you’re going for the utmost of two years. The detailed directions under will allow you to keep away from these errors.

(Note: If you want a extra visible information for redeeming Xbox Live Gold playing cards, you’ll be able to confer with our old YouTube video guide. However, as a result of it refers back to the now-dead 1:1 conversion ratio and $1 Game Pass Ultimate trial, please confer with this written information for all different directions.)

Step 1

Decide how lengthy you need Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. To profit from the deal, get as near 36 months of Xbox Live Gold (or Xbox Live Gold + normal Xbox Game Pass) as attainable, which is the utmost period of time you’ll be able to prepay. Even with the change in conversion ratio, this stays true—the distinction now’s that you simply get fewer months of Ultimate if you convert.

Add months to an Xbox Live Gold subscription utilizing digital subscription codes bought from Microsoft or one other retailer (Amazon, Newegg, Target, and many others.). Increase the time on Xbox Live Gold, not normal Xbox Game Pass—Xbox Live Gold is the cheaper choice.

Note: Microsoft discontinued promoting 12-month Xbox Live Gold subscriptions on its web site in the course of the summer time of 2020, however third-party retailers (like Amazon, Newegg, Target, and many others) nonetheless promote them for now.

Add time within the largest increments attainable—a 12-month code for Gold works out less expensive per 30 days than the one-month, three-month, and six-month varieties. When buying codes, at all times keep in mind that Microsoft’s servers gained’t allow you to redeem a code for a period that exceeds the 36-month cap. (Example: You’re at 34 months, however try and redeem a three-month code. The servers won’t allow you to activate it.) Short multi-day trial codes for Xbox Live Gold gained’t work for this promotion, like these for 3 days or two weeks.

WARNING: If you purchase three 1-year subscriptions, don’t flip settle for any bonus months in alternate for turning on recurring billing whereas redeeming the codes. Any additional freebie months you get for doing so will make it unimaginable to redeem the ultimate code.

Tips:

• Don’t overlook that your bought month of Game Pass Ultimate will stack on prime of no matter quantity of Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass subscription time you exchange. You gained’t get the complete month if it places you over the 36 month restrict, although.

• When redeeming an Xbox Live Gold digital subscription code, agreeing to recurring billing will typically provide you with a further one month totally free. (YMMV.) If you turn off recurring billing earlier than redeeming your subsequent code, you’ll be able to normally proceed to benefit from this bonus. (Don’t do that if you’re redeeming three 1-year codes—the system will refuse to allow you to redeem the ultimate code as a result of it’ll put you over the restrict.)

  To confirm you’ve turned off recurring billing, head to the Services & Subscriptions part of your account information. Under “Xbox Game Pass Ultimate,” you’ll see an expiration date in your subscription, and the choice to the suitable will say “Turn on recurring billing.”

• Microsoft Reward members with balances over 30,000 factors also needs to verify to see if the 12-month choice for Xbox Live Gold exists for them. Nothing’s sweeter than a free option to max out a deal. This has been discontinued for many members, however you would possibly nonetheless be fortunate.
• Likewise, Microsoft Reward members can snag their 1 month of Game Pass Ultimate totally free if they’ve sufficient factors.
• Buying discounted Xbox Live Gold codes will additional your financial savings. Costco is the very best for members who want a 12-month Xbox Live Gold code, whereas CDKeys presents a modest low cost accessible to everybody and sells 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month codes. CDKeys additionally sells discounted 1 month Game Pass Ultimate codes.
   
• Before shopping for any digital subscription codes, incorporate any of the above freebies or bonuses you’ll be able to receive into your calculations.
  

  Example: You want 17 months to max out. (You have already got 16 months of Xbox Live Gold and 3 months of Xbox Game Pass lively in your account.) As a Costco member who additionally has a surplus of Microsoft Reward factors, you purchase one 12-month code after which use the factors to acquire a single 3-month code. You can then angle for no less than one bonus month by selecting recurring billing if you redeem every Xbox Live Gold code. (YMMV, Microsoft has turn into inconsistent with this bonus supply.) If you get zero bonus months, add one other month of Xbox Live Gold to the account. Then apply your 1 month of Game Pass Ultimate to transform every part to 36 months of Ultimate.

Step 2

Activate your Xbox Live Gold codes. Again, as your ultimate reminder, you probably have three 1-year subscription codes for Xbox Live, don’t agree to any freebie bonus months (in alternate for turning on recurring billing) with the intention to redeem your ultimate code.

If you’re utilizing a patchwork of various codes, triple-check your math to make certain you understand how many occasions (if any) you could comply with recurring billing.

OOPS: Did you’ve gotten three 1-year XBL Gold codes and by chance make it unimaginable to redeem that ultimate code? You can wait a month or two, then redeem code #3 and convert. Or you’ll be able to wait to activate it after you improve to Game Pass Ultimate—you’ll have the ability to redeem it on a pro-rated foundation to increase your Ultimate subscription. But the alternate price gained’t be nearly as good; 12 months of Gold converts to a mere 4 months of Ultimate.

Step 3

Activate your code for 1 month of Game Pass Ultimate. (You also can as an alternative buy it through the Xbox web site or the Store on an Xbox console.)

You may have two screens to move by. The first, proven at proper, explains how the conversion works if you have already got an lively Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass subscription. (Which you need to, in the event you adopted Step 2’s directions.)

Usually, the second that follows will ask for billing info for recurring billing. You ought to have the ability to decline.

You ought to now see “Xbox Game Pass Ultimate” listed below Services and Subscriptions in your Microsoft account web page. If you bought your Ultimate code instantly by the Xbox web site or on an Xbox console, your Game Pass Ultimate subscription will doubtless be set to recurring billing as default. We recommend you flip this off, lest you be taken without warning when your subscription expires (particularly if that’s two years from now). You can accomplish that by clicking on “Manage” simply to the suitable of the billing info on the web site.

Outside of that, you’re set to go. Happy gaming!

Editor’s be aware: This article initially revealed in August 2019 however has been since up to date to maintain it present. Recent updates embrace edits to clarify the impact of July 6’s Ultimate value hike on this conversion trick. Previous updates included information on the demise of the $1 Ultimate trial, new particulars on discounted Gold codes, plus information about attainable product and value modifications associated to Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass Ultimate. A now-outdated tutorial video was additionally added.