Microsoft Pulls the $1 Trial for PC Game Pass Again

Microsoft has once again discontinued its $1 14-day trial for PC Game Pass. If the headline feels familiar, it’s because this isn’t the first time. The trial has been introduced and removed several times, typically around the release of major titles.

A Brief History of the $1 Trial

Originally, Microsoft offered a 30-day trial for $1 that granted full access to the PC Game Pass library. This offer became a popular way for new users to try out the service, especially as big titles like Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite launched on the platform day one.

The 30-day trial lasted for years but was quietly discontinued in early 2023. However, by August 2024, the trial returned; this time shortened to just 14 days. Yet, only two months later, in October 2024, Microsoft pulled the trial again, just weeks before the launch of Black Ops 6. This pattern of removal around major releases is becoming familiar.

It appears Microsoft intentionally removes the discounted trial before big first-party or major third-party releases, such as Starfield and COD Black Ops 6. The likely reason is to prevent users from exploiting the $1 trial to binge blockbuster games and then cancel before paying full price. In fact, some reddit users say they were able to get the $1 deal five, six, even more times over the years.

But that’s likely another reason they’ve pulled the plug. With so many major releases lined up and the service more popular than ever, they probably feel less pressure to lure people in with cheap trials. Plus, a lot of people already know what Game Pass is. It’s not the unknown value it was back in 2019 or 2020.

The last few times they removed the trial were all tied to big first-party launches. When Black Ops 6 launched in October, the trial vanished just a few weeks before. The same happened with Starfield. Now that the trial is gone again, it’s (sort of) reasonable to suspect a new upcoming release, given the trial’s pattern of disappearing pre-launch and reappearing post-launch. However, Microsoft has made no official announcement tying the removal to any specific title or date.

Currently, there is no trial available for PC Game Pass. New subscribers must pay the full monthly fee upfront: $11.99 for PC Game Pass or $19.99 for Game Pass Ultimate. That’s still a solid value for what’s on offer.

Why Trials Aren’t the Hook Anymore

Game Pass is now a household name. In 2025, the service carries 35M+ active subscribers, making promotional trials less critical for awareness. Plus, Microsoft reported a remarkable 30% growth in PC Game Pass subscribers in Q2 FY2025

Big-budget titles drive full‑price sign‑ups. Titles like Black Ops 6 and Starfield generate strong demand, even at $70 retail. Microsoft appears to avoid cannibalizing revenue via a $1 trial.

Given the growing popularity of the service and an expanding lineup of anticipated releases, Microsoft may no longer see the $1 trial as a necessary incentive. With Game Pass now a well-known product, the company appears to be relying less on promotional pricing and more on the strength of its content library to attract subscribers. This approach is common across many subscription-based services. Netflix, for example, ended its 30-day free trial in 2020, and Disney+ did the same ahead of “Hamilton” release.

Either way, is it worth waiting for the $1 trial to return before signing up for PC Game Pass? Honestly, probably not. With a strong lineup of AAA games like MFS 2024, Far Cry 6, and the included EA Play subscription, it’s pretty much a no-brainer for new players to give it a try.