Xbox review
Updated October 1, 2026 · LootCue Editorial Team · Facts checked October 1, 2026
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Our verdict
Xbox Game Pass fits players who want console and PC games, cloud play on the devices already at home, and online multiplayer under a single membership. The Essential plan is $9.99 a month once its trial ends, so the figure you keep paying is clear before you commit.
Key facts
- Best for
- A subscription covering console games, PC games and cloud play.
- Plan price per month
- $9.99 (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Free trial length
- 14 days (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Games in the library (games)
- 50 to 500 (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Markets
- AR, AU, AT, BE, BR, CA, CL, CO, CZ, DK, FI, FR, DE, HU, IN, IE, IL, IT, JP, LU, MX, NL, NZ, NO, PL, PT, SG, ZA, KR, ES, SE, TR, CH, GB, US (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Microsoft Corporation (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Services
- Game library, Cloud gaming, Online multiplayer
- Platforms
- Pc, Xbox, Mobile, Tv, Browser
- Official website
- xbox.com
Game key stores
- Instant delivery
- Yes (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Markets
- AR, AU, AT, BE, BR, CA, CL, CO, CZ, DK, FI, FR, DE, HU, IN, IE, IL, IT, JP, LU, MX, NL, NZ, NO, PL, PT, SG, ZA, KR, ES, SE, TR, CH, GB, US (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Microsoft Corporation (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Products
- Game keys, Gift cards, Wallet codes, Game subscriptions, In game currency, Dlc
- Platforms
- Pc, Xbox, Mobile, Tv, Browser
- Store type
- Publisher store
Apps and profiles
Pros and cons
Pros
- The Essential plan costs $9.99 a month once the 14 trial ends, so the recurring figure is easy to predict
- The library covers 50 to 500 games, with new titles added each month
- Cloud streaming reaches a PC, a console or a browser, so a game can follow you away from the machine under your television
- Digital gift cards are delivered by email, so you can top up an account or send one as a present
- Support reaches you by email, a published phone number or a help centre, so an account or billing question can get an answer
Cons
- The plan is a recurring charge at $9.99 a month, so the cost comes back even in months you do not play
- The library size of 50 to 500 games depends on the tier you pick, so the figure you read varies by plan
Ready to try Xbox?
Scored 9.4 / 10 by LootCue.
Who it suits
- Players who want console and PC games in the same library, with new additions each month
- Multiplayer players who rely on online console sessions with friends
- Gamers who often travel and want their games on a PC, a phone or in a browser
Who should look elsewhere
- Players who want to own their games outright rather than borrow them from a library
- Shoppers whose priority is a gift or a top-up rather than a monthly plan
Core features
The library is the main draw, and its size depends on the tier you pick: 50 to 500 games. New games join it every month, so the shelf keeps growing rather than settling into a finished set of titles. Entry is priced gently. The Essential plan opens with a 14 days trial before the recurring charge begins, which gives you room to browse and see whether the monthly additions match what you actually play. Alongside the library sit online console multiplayer, in-game benefits and member discounts in participating stores. Streaming lets a console title open on other hardware, so a game can follow you away from the machine under your television. The trade-off is that the plan is a recurring charge rather than a purchase you keep on a shelf, and the catalogue is a lending shelf rather than a permanent one.
The company behind it
Behind the service sits Microsoft Corporation, so the subscription, the store and the games come from one company rather than a third-party reseller. Its headquarters are in the United States, which means the business behind the membership is a large established one with a physical base. Getting hold of a person is straightforward. You can reach support on email, phone and help centre, covering an email address, a published phone number and a help centre, so an account or billing question has a route to an answer. Because the same company runs the subscription and the store, a question about a title and a question about a bill go to the same desk, and digital gift cards from the same publisher can arrive by email when you want to add credit without a new plan.
How Xbox compares
9.4 vs 9.3Plarium
9.4 vs 9.2- 9.4 vs 9.3
9.4 vs 9.3
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 8.9
Starforged
Crossout
Star Stable
War Thunder
Enlisted
Inn.games EU
Humbrol GB
GGPick
Woodestic
Perfect World RU
Norns
Vertexhub
Where Xbox is available
- Available
- Everywhere except Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria
Countries from the brand (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does the cheapest Game Pass tier cost each month?+
The Essential tier is $9.99 a month. That is the figure quoted once the trial period ends, and the plan is billed as a recurring monthly charge, so entry price and renewal price are the same figure rather than two different ones.
Can I try Game Pass before paying anything?+
Yes. The Essential tier opens with a 14 days trial, which gives you time to browse the catalogue and see whether the games added each month match what you actually play before the first recurring charge starts.
How many games are in the library?+
The library covers 50 to 500 games, and the size depends on the tier you choose, so a higher tier brings a larger catalogue to browse. New games are added every month, which keeps the shelf growing and gives you a reason to look at the service again.
Where can I play if I am away from my console?+
Cloud streaming is the part that changes where you play, and it runs on PC, Xbox, mobile and more. A game that lives on the console can open on a laptop, a phone or a television instead of the machine under your screen. Titles differ in cloud support, so check a specific game before planning around it.
Does the membership include online multiplayer?+
It does. Online console multiplayer is covered, and the membership's game library, cloud gaming and online multiplayer also list a game library and cloud gaming. That is the part that matters most if you play with friends regularly, because those sessions are where a monthly subscription earns its cost.
Is a gift card better than starting a subscription?+
A gift card suits someone who would rather add credit in one go than carry a recurring charge, and digital gift cards are delivered by email so a present can arrive quickly. A subscription suits a player who opens games most weeks, since it renews at $9.99 a month after the trial.
Which countries is the store available in?+
The store is published in 35 countries including Argentina, Australia and Austria, so readers in those countries can buy and play without hunting for another region. What a local store lists can vary by country, so check the pages for your own country before you commit to a plan.
Which company runs the service, and how do I get help?+
The subscription is published by Microsoft Corporation, whose headquarters are in the United States, so billing and account questions sit with a large established company rather than a reseller. Support reaches you by email, a published phone number and a help centre when a question needs a person.
Sources
- microsoft.com/en-us/store/b/gift-cards checked October 1, 2026
Backs: Instant delivery, Markets, Products, Store type
“Digital gift cards can be delivered instantly by email, making them a convenient option for gifting”
- xbox.com/en-US/cloud-gaming checked October 1, 2026
Backs: Platforms
“supported device including Windows PC, Apple or Android phones and tablets, XBOX console, select LG, Samsung, and VIDAA OS-powered smart TVs, plus Amazon Fire TV”
- xbox.com/en-US/games/store/game-pass-essential/CFQ7TTC0K5DJ checked October 1, 2026
Backs: Free trial length, Headquarters, Legal entity, Plan price per month, Support channels
“Xbox Game Pass Essential - 14 Day Trial Initial Recurs Monthly ... $1.00 for 14 days”
- xbox.com/en-US/xbox-game-pass checked October 1, 2026
Backs: Games in the library (games), Services
“50+ games playable on console, PC, & more devices (Essential) ... 500+ games playable on console, PC, & more devices (Ultimate)”
Compiled from 4 source pages, checked October 1, 2026. We did not open an account.