An Xbox Game Pass Price Change Would Only Be the First Step

Xbox is entering a new era with a change in leadership. Phil Spencer has retired, and Asha Sharma, formerly of Microsoft’s CoreAI, is now the CEO. A leaked memo suggests Sharma thinks Xbox Game Pass, the popular game subscription service, is currently too pricey, potentially leading to pricing adjustments for subscribers. This could be just the beginning of changes to the service.

Since its launch in 2017, Xbox Game Pass has steadily become more expensive as its game library – including new releases available on day one – has expanded. The service now offers more than just games, with perks like online multiplayer and subscriptions to services like EA Play, Fortnite Crew, and Ubisoft+ Classics also included. Over its nearly ten years, Game Pass’s pricing and various subscription options have become complicated, and a price review would be a good opportunity to simplify things for subscribers.

Xbox Re-Evaluating the Price of Game Pass Should Include a Streamlining of Tiers

I remember when Game Pass first came out – it was just for Xbox consoles and totally separate from Xbox Live Gold, which you still needed if you wanted to play online. It’s been so cool to see it grow! They started adding different options, like Game Pass Ultimate which combined Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold, and then PC Game Pass for those of us who game on computers. Eventually, they even replaced Xbox Live Gold with Game Pass Core, which gives you a selection of games to play and still lets you play online with friends.

In October 2025, Xbox made major changes to how much Game Pass cost and what you got for your money. They created four different subscription levels, each offering a different amount of games and features. This led to a significant price hike for the Game Pass Ultimate plan, forcing players to either pay more for full access or carefully choose a lower tier that met their needs.

Current Xbox Game Pass Tiers and What They Offer

Xbox Game Pass Essential — $9.99/Month
Xbox Game Pass Premium — $14.99/Month
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate — $29.99/Month
PC Game Pass — $16.49/Month

As a Game Pass fan, I’ve been checking out the Essential tier, and honestly, it feels a lot like the old Core subscription. Basically, for a lower price, you get access to over 50 games you can play on your Xbox, PC, and even things like phones and VR headsets. Plus, it still lets you play online with friends on your console and stream games you already own through Xbox Cloud Gaming. It’s a good option if you want a basic library and online access without all the bells and whistles of the higher tiers.

Xbox Game Pass Premium gives you access to over 200 games, plus all the benefits of the basic Game Pass plan, like online multiplayer and cloud gaming with faster streaming. It’s considered the main Game Pass subscription, and new members can try it for just $1 for the first two weeks. However, it doesn’t include new game releases on the day they come out.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the priciest option, costing twice as much as the Premium tier each month, but it gives you access to the largest library of games. For $30 a month, you get over 500 games for both console and PC, plus new releases on day one, and access to game libraries from services like EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, and Fortnite Crew. It also includes all the benefits of the lower-priced tiers. However, the annual cost of $360 can be quite expensive for many gamers.

For PC gamers, PC Game Pass offers access to over 300 games, including new releases on day one, plus benefits like EA Play and a selection of 50+ Ubisoft+ Classics. Unlike the Premium tier, it doesn’t include cloud streaming, but is similarly priced.

How Game Pass Could Be Streamlined in the Future

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is getting pricier, so it’s understandable if players consider cheaper options. But figuring out which games are included with each subscription level can be confusing, potentially leading some to just stick with the most expensive Ultimate plan. To help players save money and avoid frustration, Microsoft could make Game Pass more affordable and clearly show which games are available on each tier.

Game Pass could offer a basic, lower-cost tier – like PlayStation’s Essential or Xbox’s Core – that includes a small library of games, online multiplayer, and cloud streaming. Instead of forcing players to choose between the more expensive Premium or Ultimate tiers, Xbox could also create optional genre-based add-on packs for just a couple of extra dollars, letting players customize their subscription to the games they enjoy most.

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Imagine a Game Pass subscriber who loves role-playing games and wants to play The Elder Scrolls 6 as soon as it’s released. They could add an RPG-focused tier to their subscription for a small extra fee, giving them access to a hand-picked collection of RPGs. This idea could work for other game types too – like sports games, life simulation games, platformers, or indie titles. Breaking down Game Pass into these genre-specific tiers would make it clearer what each subscription level offers, while still providing a basic library of games for everyone, whether they’re longtime gamers or just getting started.

A Cheaper Game Pass Could Come with Some Major Drawbacks

To lower the cost of Game Pass, Microsoft will likely have to remove some games and features. There’s talk that Call of Duty might be removed, as its inclusion was a major reason for the price increase in October 2025. Another way to reduce the price could be to make things like EA Play and Fortnite Crew optional extras, letting gamers who don’t use them pay less and simplify their subscription.

2026-04-16 01:05