
As you may well know, it's been possible for a long time now to convert different types of Xbox Game Pass tiers into other ones - one of the most popular methods has been to convert Xbox Game Pass Core into an Ultimate membership.
For example, until recently, you'd have been able to convert Core into Ultimate at a 3:2 ratio - meaning that 90 days of Xbox Game Pass Core would equal 60 days of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The idea behind this was to ensure that if you decided to upgrade to a higher-priced tier, you'd still get some value out of the time left on your old Core membership.
"When you upgrade to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, we’ll convert any prepaid time you have on Xbox Game Pass or EA Play subscriptions and apply it toward Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at the current conversion ratio, up to a maximum of 36 months."
This is still a method you can use if you want to upgrade to a higher tier of Xbox Game Pass (or if you've found cheap Core codes that can be used to get the best deal), but as of today, the conversion rate has changed. Now, Xbox Game Pass Core converts into Ultimate at a 2:1 ratio - meaning 90 days of Core equals 45 days of Ultimate.
Here's a breakdown of all the new Xbox Game Pass conversion rates for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Keep in mind that these ratios only apply for people who aren't currently subscribed to the Ultimate tier already.
Xbox Game Pass Core Conversion Ratio - 2:1
Any remaining time will convert to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time at a ratio of 2:1 and be rounded up to the next full day. For example, 90 days remaining of Xbox Game Pass Core will convert to 45 days of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time.
PC Game Pass Conversion Ratio - 3:2
Any remaining time will convert to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time at a ratio of 3:2 and be rounded up to the next full day. For example, 90 days remaining of PC Game Pass will convert to 60 days of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time.
Xbox Game Pass Standard and Game Pass for Console Conversion Ratio - 4:3
Any remaining time will convert to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time at a ratio of 4:3 and be rounded up to the next full day. For example, 90 days remaining of Xbox Game Pass Standard or Game Pass for Console will convert to 68 days of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time.
EA Play Conversion Ratio - 3:1
Any remaining time will convert to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time at a ratio of 3:1 and be rounded up to the next full day. For example, 90 days remaining of EA Play will convert to 30 days of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time.
In addition to this, if you wish to upgrade your Xbox Game Pass Core membership into the new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier, the ratio is 3:2. The difference here is that you can only convert up to 13 months' worth of prepaid Xbox Game Pass Core into a Standard membership, whereas conversions into Ultimate can be up to 36 months' worth.
If you're looking for the TL;DR of all this, it's basically that the conversion rates have gotten worse for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate specifically, meaning that you'll get less value out of converting from Core to Ultimate than you would have done in the past. It's not the first time we've seen this - something similar happened back in July of last year.
What are your thoughts on these new Xbox Game Pass conversation rates? Tell us down below.
[source support.xbox.com]
Comments 29
Sounds like I will be getting PC game pass subscription and upgrading it to ultimate since that ratio is still good.
Corporation alters subscription business model to make more money.
@Markatron84 Difference is Microsoft let you do it, can't say the same for Sony where you get no cheaper conversion option deals at all.
You also have the option to shop around to find the cheapest 3rd party Subscription deals on Xbox and again you can't say the same for Sony who lock you into their expensive Digital Store prices.
After just over 20 years continuous Xbl and GP membership i will not be renewing my subscription in February as i feel all the changes and Microsofts current mindset it doesnt offer value for money and no longer wish to fill their coffers even though i got over 440000 ms reward points currently banked. Shame
So if you have no current Gamepass running then, the conversion into Ultimate can still be up to 36 months' therefor there is no change for the Ultimate conversion.
Removed - harassment
So glad I extended mine until 2026 using a VPN
@Muddy
Hi - new member here (though lurked for donkeys). Hope everyone is tickedyboo? Felt compelled to create a login to try and counteract all the unnecessary and often unfair negativity I keep reading (I know, gamers right?, but I can try). I'm not here to flame or troll, but feel that there is quite a lot of disingenuous commentary around gaming in general, and it's such a shame.
Back on topic: I Honestly don't understand how anyone who uses gamepass can say it doesn't represent good value for money (apologies if I've misunderstood the gist of your comment). Especially if you have a terrible gaming addiction such as myself. I've been gaming since the early 80's, and I cannot think of a time where you could play more games for as little money as we can with GP. Not even those halcyon days of £1.99 Mastertronic and Codemaster games can compete (not to mention the general standard of games today is MUCH higher, even when you throw nostalgia into the mix). I would honestly pay more than the required sub if I had to - If I were to pay for all the games I've played on GP my bill would have run into the thousands. As for whether the sub model help or hinders the industry at large, well, that's a story we'll have to watch unfold. But if we're talking about gamers getting value for money, GP is leagues ahead of any system I've used throughout my considerably long gaming career.
@ZeD I’m envious. Mine runs out in November (having paid less than £2.50 per month for the past three years) so I need to find a new deal.
@BrandNewOldSchool Treasure Island Dizzy ftw
@BrandNewOldSchool welcome to the community. It’s good to see some measured reasoning going on.
In my mind, Game Pass is extremely good value for money, even at full price, but it becomes absurdly good value when/if you can capitalise on a deal.
However, here are some considerations.
None of this is to say your view is wrong, or to add to the chorus of outrage that seems to happen, but just to give some additional perspectives.
Like I said, I see the value in Game Pass, but I also see I have thousands of pounds less in my bank account this year than last because all the prices have increased. I’m paying more for the same things and have nothing new to show for it.
I’m not angry Game Pass is upping its price, or making it harder to game the system, they have been generous to us. But understanding doesn’t help my wallet. I’m genuinely concerned I won’t be able to afford it for both my kids in the future.
@Rog-X yeah they did let us do it, and hopefully we all made the most of it. They weren't going to let that sh*t fly forever.
@Kienda I paid £48 for so many 6 month core code from India. What I got converted into just over 16 months. £3 a month is something I can live with.
General tip for all; keep an eye out on CDKEYS
No surprise at all
Paying extra to play game boy level quality games is not enticing.
@BrandNewOldSchool
I’m same as you, I’ve been around since the 8-bit Computer days and see Game Pass as great value. People are always going to be disappointed at price rises and getting less return for their spend but it’s still a very good deal. The variety is brilliant, it has loads of big hitters and a smattering of interesting Indie games too. As someone who jumps around (in recent months I’ve played some Jedi Survivor, Doom Eternal, Hellblade 2, Forza, FC 24, Yakuza and Starfield) it’s a great value proposition.
@BrandNewOldSchool Welcome and yes, you are absolutely right. I'd add that it's odd reading people complaining about getting hundreds of free dollars/pounds/euros via Microsoft Rewards. Xbox is just the best gaming platform: Play Anywhere, Game Pass (different tiers), excellent hardware, comfy controller, enhanced backwards compatibility (instead of full-priced remasters), third-party codes, Microsoft Rewards...
Buy your games. dont ever depend on any subscription service. not on video games, music, movies, software etc.
Who doesn't have Game Pass Ultimate clear into 2027 by now?
@BrandNewOldSchool This 100%. And welcome to the board!!!!!
@theduckofdeath People who had game pass ultimate clear into 2024.
@theduckofdeath I have Game Pass since it started. The first first-party games that joined on launch day were Sea of Thieves, State of Decay 2 and Crackdown 3. I usually redeem two or three years of pre-paid codes. I have to renew it next summer. I don't expect a deal as good as the past ones, but it's been too good so far, so that's okay.
if you already have GPU the conversion is 3:1, 6 months Core will give you 2 Months Ultimate and 12 months Core ===> 4 months Ultimate.
@Kienda
All great points - we must all try to live within our means and adjust our expectations accordingly and so naturally nobody likes a price-rice. The fact that in this economic environment a lot of the rises in price are a result of greed-flation makes the rises even more galling for the majority of us. I'm sure Microsoft/Xbox are guilty of taking advantage of these trends (as are most, if not all Corporations and services in the economy), and yet I'm also quite certain that GP is not a cheap service to run and that Corporate laws and share-holders will expect these services to run with, at the very least, decent profits.
Having said that, if affordability is your main concern, then all entertainment services are going to add an increasing strain on your finances. So if you have unhealthy gaming/filming/musical needs, the subscription model is one that is likely to give you more bang for your buck, though ownership of said media is off the table, (a considerable barrier if that's important to you).
I have 3 kids; two little ones who are not old enough to get into gaming (and I'm considering holding that off as long as realistically possible), and an adult daughter who lives with her partner in Dorset. She is as addicted to gaming as I am (all my fault - bought her a 3DS when she was 4 which has made her a lifelong Nintendo/gaming lover) She and I share my Xbox account and all my GP benefits with the game-share trick, so she can, from the other side of the country, play all the games that I can without paying a penny. I keep thinking it's going to get pulled by Microsoft one day, but we've been doing this since Gamepass day one, and with XBL and its content prior, and no-one has pulled the plug on it yet.
Sorry for the long post...
I’m still set until March 2026 with the old 1:1 conversion rate. Once that expires I may convert again if I can find Core codes cheap enough, but if the conversion rate is made even worse by that point then I’ll just stick with Core.
At the end of the day, its them trying to do a 'fair' trade essentially. Paying for 3yrs of 'Core' and then upgrading to 3yrs of Ultimate for £1 is not a 'fair' conversion rate for MS and people took advantage of that, so now they have to crackdown otherwise they'd lose money...
As long as people also get a 'fair' conversion - ie one that doesn't lose them any money (you get the same length of time for the amount you spent or slightly more) then I see no issue..
Eh, I just buy cheap sub cards now. I can usually get Ultimate for about half off. I buy a bunch at a time and stack them. I missed out on all the initial conversion stuff anyway. Considering I'd been paying full price for Ultimate the entire time, I am pleased as either way it is a discount for me.
@Ryu_Niiyama you may find your easy access to these discount cards more limited now that everybody else is gonna be trying the same thing lol!!
@Banjo- The first time I tried Game Pass was because I didn't want to buy State of Decay 2. I did a month here and there. I finally did the 3-year XBL conversion in June 2020. Before that, I was all about buying the $99 versions of the 1st party titles each year. I'm not sure why I was so reluctant to join.
GP(U) has only gotten better over the years. The conversion ran out in June 2023. I was collecting MS rewards points the whole time, pushing the expiration date into 2027 (so far). I play near evenly on PC and Xbox, with the edge to Xbox because of Game Pass Ultimate.
I feel strongly that GPU is worth the price even if I was paying the whole time. The rewards points are set up like a game about a game about a game, and you get to save some money. Besides Game Pass, I've used the points to knock $25 here and $50 there off of games.
@ShinG67 if that happens just means I go back to what I had been paying for years. No biggie.
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