5 Best Xbox Game Pass Tips Most Subscribers Don't Know

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $22.99/month and most subscribers use about 30% of what they're paying for. The library is the obvious benefit — but there's a stack of features Microsoft does a poor job of communicating. EA Play access, free in-game items every month, ~$10/month in Xbox credit just from Bing searches, Cloud Gaming on devices you didn't know it worked on, and pre-installation tricks for day-one launches. Five tips that take 5 minutes to set up and pay back the subscription multiple times over.

Tip 1 — EA Play Is Included with Ultimate (and PC Game Pass)

Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass include a full EA Play membership at no extra cost — that's 60+ EA games (Battlefield, FIFA / EA Sports FC, Star Wars Jedi, The Sims 1 and 2 including all expansions, Apex Legends, Need for Speed, Dead Space, and the entire Mass Effect trilogy). Most subscribers never browse the EA Play library because it's tucked inside the Xbox app.

Bonus: Ultimate also gives you 10% off all EA games and DLC in the Microsoft Store or EA app. If you're buying an EA title outside Game Pass, always check the discount applies before checking out.

Tip 2 — The Game Pass Perks Library Has Free In-Game Items Every Month

Inside the Xbox Game Pass app there's a "Perks" tab that drops free in-game items every month — Apex Legends weapon charms, Battlefield 6 Season Packs, Fortnite Crew (Ultimate only), Rocket Pass progress (Ultimate only), Sea of Thieves cosmetics, EA Sports bundles. Most subscribers never open this tab.

Set a calendar reminder for the 1st of each month to check the Perks tab. Many Perks expire after 30 days. Across a full year, you're missing roughly $200+ worth of in-game items by not claiming.

Tip 3 — Microsoft Rewards Earns You ~$10/Month in Xbox Credit

Microsoft Rewards pays you points for using Bing, completing Xbox Game Pass Quests, and daily Xbox app check-ins. A committed Level 2 user earns ~10,000 points/month = $10 in Xbox gift cards for ~10 minutes per day. That's roughly half a month of Ultimate ($22.99) covered for free.

Stack the Daily Sets (Bing searches + quizzes), the Xbox Mobile App jewel quest (60 seconds, 30 points), Weekly Console Bonus (up to 260 points/week for Ultimate subs), and Game Pass Quests. Two months of consistent daily activity = roughly one free month of Game Pass Ultimate.

Tip 4 — Cloud Gaming Works on Way More Devices Than You Think

Cloud Gaming (Ultimate only) streams Game Pass titles to your phone, tablet, Smart TV, browser, or Steam Deck. Most subs only use it on console/PC and miss the entire point — you can be on a lunch break, on a train, or at a friend's house and play Forza Horizon 6 in 1080p with a Bluetooth controller.

Compatible with: iOS/Android phones, iPads, Samsung Smart TVs (native app), Fire TVs, Meta Quest headsets (browser), any Chrome / Edge / Safari browser, and the ROG Xbox Ally handheld. Bring a controller and you have a portable Xbox anywhere with Wi-Fi.

Tip 5 — Pre-Install Day-One Game Pass Titles Up to 7 Days Early

Day-one Game Pass titles can be pre-installed up to 7 days before launch. Forza Horizon 6's standard edition lands May 19 — Game Pass subs can pre-download the full game starting now, so on May 19 you click "Play" and you're driving immediately. No 100GB launch-day download nightmare.

Set up Xbox auto-updates and Smart Delivery so when the day-one update lands, your console handles it overnight. Best applied to upcoming day-ones like Forza Horizon 6 (May 19) and future heavy-hitters.

Where to Get Xbox Game Pass Cheaper

Got questions about which Game Pass tier matches your play style, or which of these tips applies to your account? Hit our live chat and we'll help you set it up.

Related Reads

• Is Xbox Game Pass Worth It in 2026? — full breakdown of every Game Pass tier and which one matches your play style
• Everything Coming to Xbox Game Pass in May 2026 — the 13+ game lineup including Subnautica 2 + Forza Horizon 6
• Forza Horizon 6 Premium Edition Early Access — Is It Worth $120? — Game Pass vs Premium edition cost-benefit
• Subnautica 2 Is Live on Game Pass — Everything You Need to Know — the May 14 day-one launch