1. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Availability

Xbox Game Pass has been in the news lately thanks to the $68 billion megamerger with Activision Blizzard and Microsoft’s new plans to shove Game Pass everywhere it possibly can. It’s currently available on Xbox Series X and S, Windows PC, Android Phones, iPhones, some select Samsung smart TVs, and most recently on Meta Quest headsets. There’s always the possibility we’ll see Game Pass appear in even more places, perhaps even on macOS. We’re skeptical Sony or Nintendo would allow Microsoft to set up shop on their own premier consoles, but it’s a weird world, and who knows what’s next for gaming during this tumultuous time in the industry.

Game Library

Microsoft regularly puts its exclusive titles on Game Pass, but the full list of titles available for the cloud gaming beta does have some bangers you wouldn’t expect. Starfield is there, along with Forza Horizon 5 and the Dead Space remake, but there are some rather interesting titles from smaller publishers like Stellaris or Stardew Valley. If you missed a few games from generations past, you can also find several titles like Fallout: New Vegas (easily the best first-person Fallout game). Plus, you have the full regular Game Pass catalog if you own a device capable of running those titles natively.

Pricing

You’ll need to spend $17 a month for the Game Pass Ultimate subscription to access cloud gaming. This also gives you access to Game Pass on Xbox consoles and PCs.

Other Considerations

You have to remember that for what you get, you’re not getting the absolute premiere experience. Game Pass cloud gaming tops out at 60 FPS and 1080p resolutions. This is fine for most people, but it’s not the epitome of what a precision-built gaming rig or even the Xbox Series X can handle.

There’s always the chance Microsoft will raise prices later, but for right now, Game Pass might be the best bang for your buck, considering how many systems currently support it and the breadth of games available you don’t have to pay for separately. Plus, things should only get better for Game Pass as time goes on, so long as Xbox keeps supporting it with new titles.