For over 4 years, avid gamers have been in a position to entry a whole lot of titles throughout PC and Xbox by way of Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription service—however you don’t must pay full worth. With just a few good strikes, you possibly can 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 can lock as much as three years at 63 p.c off. When Xbox Game Pass Ultimate first launched, early adopters found that when you activated one month of Game Pass Ultimate on an account, it transformed current Xbox Live Gold and normal Xbox Game Pass subscriptions to Ultimate at a 1:1 charge. Any pay as you go time as much as the utmost of three years obtained the improve.

However, with Microsoft’s price hike on Xbox Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate, this trick obtained nerfed. Currently, the conversion charge 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 Not pretty much as good as $5 per 30 days (the outdated deal), however nonetheless a large low cost nonetheless. The checklist worth for Ultimate is $17 per 30 days, and even normal 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 price of a 1-year subscription to $50 USD periodically. (You can set a deal alert for “xbox live” at Slickdeals.net for an e mail or push notification of future offers.) But even on the common worth of $60 USD per 12-month code, this hack is worth it.

So when you solely play on PC, you’ll nonetheless be forward, with limitless entry to a full vary of video games that features upcoming Halo, Gears of War, and different sport releases on PC from Microsoft, EA, Bethesda, and extra. The entry to console titles is simply a further perk.

Read on for a step-by-step information of find out how to safe this deal, which incorporates tips about find out how to maximize your financial savings.

!- News alerts -!

3/31/2022: Talk is swirling that Microsoft could get rid of 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 normal Game Pass subscription(s) to Game Pass Ultimate

However, you possibly can run into just a few pitfalls throughout this course of—particularly when you’re going for the utmost of two years. The detailed directions under will allow you to keep away from these errors.

(Note: If you want a extra visible information for redeeming Xbox Live Gold playing cards, you possibly can seek advice from our old YouTube video guide. However, as a result of it refers back to the now-dead 1:1 conversion ratio and $1 Game Pass Ultimate trial, please seek advice from this written information for all different directions.)

Step 1

Decide how lengthy you need Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. To benefit from the deal, get as near 36 months of Xbox Live Gold (or Xbox Live Gold + normal Xbox Game Pass) as attainable, which is the utmost period of time you possibly can prepay. Even with the change in conversion ratio, this stays true—the distinction now could be that you just get fewer months of Ultimate if 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 normal Xbox Game Pass—Xbox Live Gold is the cheaper choice.

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

Add time within the largest increments attainable—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, all the time do not forget that Microsoft’s servers received’t allow you to redeem a code for a period that exceeds the 36-month cap. (Example: You’re at 34 months, however try and 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 received’t work for this promotion, like these for 3 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 neglect 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 received’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 typically offer you a further one month without spending a dime. (YMMV.) If you turn off recurring billing earlier than redeeming your subsequent code, you possibly can normally proceed to make the most of this bonus. (Don’t do that if you’re 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 in your subscription, and the choice to the suitable will say “Turn on recurring billing.”

• Microsoft Reward members with balances over 30,000 factors also needs to examine to see if the 12-month choice for Xbox Live Gold exists for them. Nothing’s sweeter than a free solution to max out a deal. This has been discontinued for many members, however you may nonetheless be fortunate.
• Likewise, Microsoft Reward members can snag their 1 month of Game Pass Ultimate without spending a dime if they’ve sufficient factors.
• Buying discounted Xbox Live Gold codes will additional your financial savings. Costco is the most effective for members who want a 12-month Xbox Live Gold code, whereas CDKeys gives 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 possibly can get hold of 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 no less than one bonus month by selecting recurring billing if you redeem every Xbox Live Gold code. (YMMV, Microsoft has change into inconsistent with this bonus supply.) 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 every little thing to 36 months of Ultimate.

Step 2

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

If you’re utilizing a patchwork of various codes, triple-check your math to make sure you understand how many instances (if any) it’s worthwhile to comply with recurring billing.

OOPS: Did you may have three 1-year XBL Gold codes and unintentionally make it inconceivable to redeem that last code? You can wait a month or two, then redeem code #3 and convert. Or you possibly can wait to activate it after you improve to Game Pass Ultimate—you’ll be capable of redeem it on a pro-rated foundation to increase your Ultimate subscription. But the trade charge received’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 can even as an alternative buy it by way of the Xbox web site or the Store on an Xbox console.)

You can have two screens to cross 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 you need to, when you adopted Step 2’s directions.)

Usually, the second that follows will ask for billing info for recurring billing. You ought to be capable of decline.

You ought to now see “Xbox Game Pass Ultimate” listed below Services and Subscriptions in your Microsoft account web page. If you bought your Ultimate code instantly by the Xbox web site or on an Xbox console, your Game Pass Ultimate subscription will doubtless be set to recurring billing as default. We counsel 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 suitable of the billing info on the web site.

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

Editor’s word: This article initially printed 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 worth 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 attainable product and worth adjustments associated to Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass Ultimate. A now-outdated tutorial video was additionally added.