Game Pass Just Jumped to $30 — 3 Must-Play Games This Weekend (Oct. 3–5, 2025)
Microsoft raised the price of Game Pass Ultimate to $30 per month on Oct. 1, up from $20, and that change is giving many players pause. Consequently, some people are deciding whether to keep the subscription, while others are looking for the best value inside the service. Meanwhile, Game Pass still includes a wide catalog of titles, so if you keep your plan you can jump into new and notable games this weekend.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
What it is: A 2D Metroidvania developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown returns the series to side-scrolling platforming and exploration. The game focuses on navigating traps and interconnected areas, and it includes a variety of combat options and enemy types. In addition, Microsoft announced that Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will have access to a suite of Ubisoft+ Classics, which includes titles like this one.
Why play it this weekend
It’s paced for exploration and combat, so you can make measurable progress in a few sessions. Moreover, the mix of platforming and varied combat makes it approachable whether you want a short play or a longer run.
Blue Prince
What it is: A first-person puzzle game with roguelike elements and an ever-shifting mansion to explore.
Blue Prince launched on PC and sold well on Steam. In addition, the game was available on subscription services at launch, which helped grow its console audience — the developer noted that subscription availability played a role in early adoption. For more context on the developer’s comment about subscriptions, see this LinkedIn post.
Gameplay centers on exploring a large estate to find a hidden room and claim an inheritance. The mansion’s layout changes over time, so each run can reveal new clues and secrets. As of late reports from player communities, the game has reached a notable player count; community threads have discussed figures around 2 million players.
Play a few runs to see if you like the mystery-driven puzzles and the daily changes to the map.
Developer note on subscriptions (LinkedIn)
Community thread on player numbers (ResetEra)
Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom — The Prince’s Edition
What it is: An action-oriented JRPG from Level-5, available on Game Pass as the Prince’s Edition.
Ni no Kuni 2 puts more emphasis on real-time action combat than the first game, and it adds a kingdom-management layer where you recruit citizens and build up a nation. The story mixes whimsical visuals with serious moments: the opening scenes include an apparent terrorist attack in a modern setting, which then leads the protagonist into an alternate, medieval-style world amid a coup.
Who might enjoy it
If you like JRPGs with a lighter visual style but deeper systems under the surface, this edition on Game Pass gives you both combat and city-building elements to engage with.
Context and links
The price change to Game Pass Ultimate came into effect on Oct. 1, and many players have reacted publicly. If you’re considering the wider cost-of-living context, NPR’s series on the topic may be useful background reading.
Finally, if you decide to keep Game Pass, these three titles offer different ways to get value: a modern Metroidvania, a puzzle-driven roguelike, and a narrative JRPG with kingdom management. If you prefer to change or cancel your subscription, look up the official Xbox support pages for step-by-step guidance.
