Game Pass divides its users: total confusion between Essential, Premium and Ultimate

The new Game Pass structure is still not well explained and many players do not know what each plan includes.

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Since Game Pass introduced the Essential, Premium, and Ultimate plans, the service has gone from being almost automatic to requiring constant comparisons and checks. Before, all you needed was a subscription and you were good to go. Now, depending on the level you choose, you can access some games but not others, but the interface barely makes it clear.

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Many players agree on the same thing: when browsing the library, almost everything appears under the “Game Pass” label, without differentiating what belongs to Essential, what belongs to Premium, and what is blocked for Ultimate. Even when reviewing previously installed games, the system does not specify in an obvious way what plan you need now to play them again.

A simple explanation: what each Game Pass level includes

To understand why there’s so much confusion, it’s best to put it in a direct table that clarifies what each plan offers in a practical way:

• With this comparison, the key point becomes clearer: Premium does not include new games, while Ultimate does, along with EA Play, Ubisoft Classics, and Fortnite Crew. Essential, on the other hand, works as a substitute for the old Gold, with some additional games to complete the package.

The problem is that the Xbox interface doesn’t explain it this way. A visual label for each game indicating the minimum required level is missing. Something as simple as a distinct icon for each plan would avoid confusion, especially when a title appears “playable” because you already had it installed, but in reality, it requires a higher plan.

The general feeling is that Game Pass needs to improve its own communication. The service remains solid, but if a player needs to investigate several menus to understand what they can play according to their subscription, the experience stops being comfortable.

A table like this should be integrated directly into the console from day one. Meanwhile, the community continues to demand clarity… and with good reason.