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

For over 4 years, players have been capable of access lots of of titles throughout PC and Xbox by way of Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription service—however you don’t must pay full value. With a number of sensible strikes, you’ll be able to lock in a 52 p.c 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 pretty much as good as earlier than: Before July 6, 2023, you possibly can lock as much as three years at 63 p.c off. When Xbox Game Pass Ultimate first launched, early adopters found that for those who activated one month of Game Pass Ultimate on an account, it transformed current Xbox Live Gold and customary Xbox Game Pass subscriptions to Ultimate at a 1:1 fee. Any pay as you go time as much as the utmost of three years obtained the improve.

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

Looking to load up on Xbox Live Gold at a reduction? Keep an eye fixed out for gross sales at Newegg. The retailer drops the associated fee of a 1-year subscription to $50 USD periodically. (You can set a deal alert for “xbox live” at Slickdeals.internet 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 for those who solely play on PC, you’ll nonetheless be forward, with limitless access to a full vary of video games that features upcoming Halo, Gears of War, and different recreation releases on PC from Microsoft, EA, Bethesda, and extra. The access to console titles is simply an extra perk.

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

!- News alerts -!

3/31/2022: Talk is swirling that Microsoft could eradicate 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 accepted 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 customary Game Pass subscription(s) to Game Pass Ultimate

However, you’ll be able to run into a number of pitfalls throughout this course of—particularly for those who’re going for the utmost of two years. The detailed directions beneath will assist you 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 consult with our previous YouTube video information. However, as a result of it refers back to the now-dead 1:1 conversion ratio and $1 Game Pass Ultimate trial, please consult with this written information for all different directions.)

Step 1

Decide how lengthy you need Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. To take advantage of of the deal, get as near 36 months of Xbox Live Gold (or Xbox Live Gold + customary Xbox Game Pass) as doable, which is the utmost quantity 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 while 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 so forth.). Increase the time on Xbox Live Gold, not customary Xbox Game Pass—Xbox Live Gold is the cheaper possibility.

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

Add time within the largest increments doable—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 do not forget that Microsoft’s servers gained’t allow you to redeem a code for a length that exceeds the 36-month cap. (Example: You’re at 34 months, however try to redeem a three-month code. The servers is not going to allow you to activate it.) Short multi-day trial codes for Xbox Live Gold gained’t work for this promotion, like these for three days or two weeks.

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

Tips:

• Don’t overlook that your bought month of Game Pass Ultimate will stack on high of no matter quantity of Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass subscription time you change. You gained’t get the total 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 generally provide you with an extra one month for free. (YMMV.) If you flip off recurring billing earlier than redeeming your subsequent code, you’ll be able to often proceed to take benefit of this bonus. (Don’t do that in case you are 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 data. Under “Xbox Game Pass Ultimate,” you’ll see an expiration date for your subscription, and the choice to the precise will say “Turn on recurring billing.”

• Microsoft Reward members with balances over 30,000 factors also needs to test to see if the 12-month possibility for Xbox Live Gold exists for them. Nothing’s sweeter than a free strategy to max out a deal. This has been discontinued for most members, however you may nonetheless be fortunate.
  
• Likewise, Microsoft Reward members can snag their 1 month of Game Pass Ultimate for 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 obtainable 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 acquire into your calculations.
  

  Example: You want 17 months to max out. (You have already got 16 months of Xbox Live Gold and three 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 at the very least one bonus month by selecting recurring billing while you redeem every Xbox Live Gold code. (YMMV, Microsoft has change into inconsistent with this bonus provide.) 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 all the pieces to 36 months of Ultimate.

Step 2

Activate your Xbox Live Gold codes. Again, as your ultimate reminder, in case you have three 1-year subscription codes for Xbox Live, don’t agreeto any freebie bonus months (in trade for turning on recurring billing) as a way to redeem your ultimate code.

If you might be utilizing a patchwork of completely different codes, triple-check your math to make certain you know the way many instances (if any) you have to conform to recurring billing.

OOPS: Did you might have three 1-year XBL Gold codes and by accident make it inconceivable 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 trade fee gained’t be pretty much 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 may also as a substitute buy it by way of the Xbox web site or the Store on an Xbox console.)

You may have two screens to go 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 it’s best to, for those who adopted Step 2’s directions.)

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

You ought to now see “Xbox Game Pass Ultimate” listed underneath Services and Subscriptions in your Microsoft account web page. If you bought your Ultimate code immediately by the Xbox web site or on an Xbox console, your Game Pass Ultimate subscription will seemingly be set to recurring billing as default. We recommend you flip this off, lest you be taken unexpectedly when your subscription expires (particularly if that’s two years from now). You can achieve this by clicking on “Manage” simply to the precise of the billing data on the web site.

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

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