Why is XBOX GAME PASS* showing up on my bank statement?

The XBOX GAME PASS* charge appears because an active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription is billing your payment method on its regular monthly renewal cycle through Microsoft.

Why does the charge say XBOX GAME PASS* instead of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?

Banks truncate merchant names on statements, so Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's billing descriptor is shortened to XBOX GAME PASS* — the asterisk is commonly used by Microsoft to indicate a subscription service.

Can I get a refund for an XBOX GAME PASS* charge?

Microsoft's refund policy for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate allows refunds on a case-by-case basis, especially for the first charge or if the subscription wasn't used. Contact support.xbox.com to request one.

How do I cancel Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to stop future charges?

Log into account.microsoft.com, go to 'Services & Subscriptions,' find Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and select 'Cancel.' Cancellation stops future XBOX GAME PASS* charges at the end of the current billing period.

How do I stop future XBOX GAME PASS* charges if I didn't sign up?

If you didn't authorize the subscription, contact Microsoft Support immediately to cancel the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership and request a refund, then monitor your account for any further unauthorized activity.

Home›Browse Charges›Gaming›XBOX GAME PASS*

XBOX GAME PASS* Charge (What It Is + Is It Legit?)

✓ Legitimate

The "XBOX GAME PASS*" charge is from Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

🌍 US🕐 8 min read📅 Updated May 22, 2026

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

XBOX GAME PASS*

Understanding this descriptor

Microsoft processes Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription payments through its billing infrastructure using a truncated descriptor format, which is why your bank statement shows "XBOX GAME PASS*" rather than the full service name. The asterisk in the descriptor is a standard formatting character used by Microsoft's payment processing system to separate the brand identifier from additional billing detail codes that may follow, such as a transaction reference or regional suffix. If you see a $14.99 monthly charge under this descriptor, it almost certainly corresponds to your active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership billed through Microsoft's subscription services platform.

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Recommended actions

Confirm Your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscription

Log into your Microsoft account at xbox.com and navigate to your subscriptions section to verify that an active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate plan is listed. This will confirm that the XBOX GAME PASS* charge on your bank statement is tied to your account.

Check the Billing Amount and Date

Compare the charge amount on your bank statement with the current Xbox Game Pass Ultimate pricing shown at xbox.com. Billing cycles renew automatically, so make sure the amount matches your expected plan rate and that the date aligns with your usual renewal schedule.

Review Who Has Access to Your Subscription

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate allows you to share benefits with family members through Xbox Family Settings. Visit xbox.com to review which accounts are linked to your subscription to ensure no unauthorized users are benefiting from the plan you are being charged for.

Manage or Cancel Your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscription

If you no longer wish to be charged for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, visit xbox.com/billing to manage your subscription. From there you can turn off recurring billing or cancel the plan entirely to prevent future XBOX GAME PASS* charges from appearing on your bank statement.

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How to cancel Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bills you Monthly. To stop future charges, cancel from your account directly.

Cancel at Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

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Is this charge fraudulent?

No, this is a legitimate charge from Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. However, if you did not authorize this charge or cancelled your subscription, you may be eligible for a refund.

Is the XBOX GAME PASS* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

If you see XBOX GAME PASS* on your bank or credit card statement, this charge is almost certainly a legitimate recurring billing from Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Microsoft's all-in-one gaming subscription service. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundles Xbox Live Gold, cloud gaming, and access to hundreds of games for a flat monthly fee, and it bills automatically each cycle using this exact descriptor.

The XBOX GAME PASS* descriptor is the official billing name used by Microsoft for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions
Charges typically appear monthly at the standard Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription rate (currently around $14.99–$19.99/month)
A free trial or promotional period ending will trigger the first full XBOX GAME PASS* charge automatically
Family members or other household users may have signed up for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate using your payment method

How to Verify the XBOX GAME PASS* Charge

1
Check your Microsoft account subscriptions
Log into account.microsoft.com and navigate to 'Services & Subscriptions' to confirm an active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership is linked to your account.
2
Search your email for receipts
Search your inbox for emails from Microsoft or Xbox with the subject 'Xbox Game Pass Ultimate' or 'XBOX GAME PASS*' to find a matching billing receipt.
3
Check household members
Ask family members or anyone who may use your payment method whether they activated an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription — it's a common oversight in shared households.
4
Review the charge amount and date
Cross-reference the XBOX GAME PASS* charge amount on your statement with the standard Xbox Game Pass Ultimate pricing and your subscription renewal date in your Microsoft account.
5
Contact your bank if still unsure
If you cannot verify the XBOX GAME PASS* charge through any of the above steps, call the number on the back of your card and ask your bank to provide the full merchant details for the transaction.

How to Dispute a XBOX GAME PASS* Charge

1
Act within 60 days
Most banks require disputes to be filed within 60 days of the XBOX GAME PASS* charge appearing on your statement, so don't delay if you believe the charge is unauthorized.
2
Contact Xbox Game Pass Ultimate support first
Reach out to Microsoft Support at support.xbox.com before filing a chargeback — Xbox Game Pass Ultimate support can often issue a refund directly and cancel the subscription faster than a bank dispute.
3
File a chargeback with your bank
If Microsoft support cannot resolve the issue, contact your bank or card issuer and formally dispute the XBOX GAME PASS* charge, citing it as unauthorized or billing in error.
4
Request a new card number
If you suspect your card details were used fraudulently to sign up for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, ask your bank to issue a new card number to prevent any future unauthorized XBOX GAME PASS* charges.

Tips for Managing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Charges

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Enable Microsoft billing alerts so you're notified before each XBOX GAME PASS* renewal charge hits your account.

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Keep a record of your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate start date and price so you can quickly spot any unexpected billing changes.

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Secure your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate account with two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized subscriptions on your Microsoft account.

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Note your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate renewal date each month so the XBOX GAME PASS* charge never catches you off guard.

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Use a dedicated card for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate so XBOX GAME PASS* charges are easy to isolate and monitor.

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Use WhatIsThisCharge.net to identify related charges like other Microsoft or Xbox billing descriptors on your statement.

ℹ️ Note

In most cases, the <strong>XBOX GAME PASS*</strong> charge on your statement is simply Microsoft billing you for your active <strong>Xbox Game Pass Ultimate</strong> subscription — a quick check of your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com will confirm the charge and put your mind at ease.