Some Xbox users can grab their first month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for just $1 for a limited time. Microsoft’s gaming subscription service has seen some major ups and downs this year, with some fans praising the growing number of titles available on the platform and others criticizing its recent price changes. While those adjustments remain a prominent talking point, anyone who doesn’t already have an Xbox Game Pass subscription may have a chance to avoid the cost concerns for a brief period.
After coming under fire for console, game, and service price hikes earlier in the year, Microsoft rolled out some big limited-time deals for the holidays. Xbox’s Black Friday Sale included a $1 trial for Xbox Game Pass, though that promotion gave users just 14 days for the dollar. Now, the company has quietly brought back a similar deal from the past, and this one lasts for twice as long as the Black Friday discount.
People Canceling Their Xbox Game Pass Subscriptions Are Getting Hit With Ads
Xbox users report seeing ads for Xbox Game Pass on their console home screens almost immediately after canceling their subscriptions amid price hikes.
Newcomers Can Get One Month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $1
As spotted by Wario64, the Join Xbox Game Pass page now says that newcomers can get their first month of Ultimate or Essential for $1 before regular billing resumes. Interestingly, the middle tier, Premium, is only available for 14 days under the $1 promotion, further cementing a month of Ultimate for a dollar as the best deal of the bunch. The discount may come as a welcome sigh of relief for some gamers, as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate got a $10 price hike in October 2025, marking the third straight year of price hikes and the largest jump in costs in the platform’s history. New users will still need to pay $29.99 a month for Ultimate after their first month ends, but it’s at least a good opportunity to see if it’s worth it before committing to the full price.
This isn’t the first time Xbox Game Pass has offered this deal. It’s something of a regular trend for the platform, with Xbox ending the $1 promotion before big game releases only to bring it back later down the line. The fine print on Xbox’s website suggests fans can expect more of the same this time around, as it specifies that the deal will only be available for a limited time. It does not say when the $1 promotion is ending, though, so anyone hoping to take advantage of it may want to jump on the chance while it’s still available, as it’s unclear if and when Microsoft will resurrect the sale again.
It’s also worth noting that the fine print says the deal may not be available in all regions. Again, Xbox does not specify which areas the promotion applies to, so gamers will have to check themselves to confirm whether they can access it. It could be worth shopping around for deals at other retailers, too. Xbox users have noted before that Xbox Game Pass allowed them to stack discounted memberships from various stores like Best Buy and Costco to get several months at a lower price. If anything is available at local retailers, it’d be a great way to try out the 15 Game Awards Nominees currently on Xbox Game Pass without paying the full rate.
While Xbox’s history of price hikes can be frustrating, it also has a history of deals and discounts. In addition to the games available to play, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers several perks to take advantage of in specific games. Whether it’s worth the price is up to the individual, but if nothing else, it’s hard to argue with a month for $1.
