What changes are coming to Xbox Game Pass pricing?

Xbox Game Pass pricing looks set for changes

Microsoft’s new Xbox gaming chief, Asha Sharma, has indicated that Xbox Game Pass pricing is likely to change soon. The signal comes from an internal memo sent to Xbox employees, a version of which was obtained by The Verge.

In the memo, Sharma frames Game Pass as a service that has become “too expensive,” and she signals that Xbox is preparing to adjust how pricing works going forward. While the leaked document doesn’t provide specific price points or a detailed rollout plan, the direction is clear: Microsoft is acknowledging that the current cost structure isn’t sustainable in its present form.

What this means for players

The most immediate implication is uncertainty over future subscription costs for Xbox users. Players who currently plan budgets around Game Pass will likely want to watch for:

• Any tier changes (if Microsoft differentiates pricing by subscription level)
• Any adjustments to how Day One titles are priced or bundled
• Whether Microsoft introduces cost-saving options or restructured memberships

For the broader industry, this matters because Game Pass is one of the most visible subscription experiments in console gaming. Pricing signals can affect how publishers forecast demand and how rivals position competing services.

At this stage, the memo functions as a policy direction rather than a finalized announcement, so exact details of what “pricing is about to change” will depend on whatever Microsoft follows up with publicly. Still, the internal acknowledgement of expense and the explicit timing pressure (“about to change”) suggest movement is likely rather than purely theoretical.