Recent reports suggest Microsoft is planning a new Game Pass option focused solely on first-party games. Now, a new rumor from Insider Gaming indicates this tier, internally known as “Triton,” will also include cloud gaming, but with a monthly limit on how many hours players can use it.
It’s not surprising to see a time limit added to Cloud Gaming, as other services like Nvidia’s GeForce Now already have similar restrictions. GeForce Now, for instance, allows players 100 hours of gameplay each month. Previously, Xbox’s Cloud Gaming didn’t have any time limits, making this a change for users.
The move likely comes from Asha Sharma, the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming, and her efforts to lower the cost of the subscription service. She previously described it as being too pricey for gamers in a memo that became public earlier this month.
As a gamer, I’m hearing that Xbox knows Game Pass is super important for getting the most out of the system. But they also admit the current price is getting a little steep, and they’re working on making it a better deal. They’re not just talking about a quick fix either – they want to totally revamp Game Pass to be more flexible, but they need time to figure out what works best. Basically, they’re saying things will change, but it’ll take a bit to get it right.
Last month, data miners found evidence of a new Game Pass tier specifically featuring games made by Xbox Game Studios. The discovered list included titles like DOOM 64, Psychonauts, Retro Classics, DOOM Eternal, Dishonored 2, Fable Anniversary, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, Gears 5, Halo 5: Guardians, Halo Wars 2, Hellblade, Ori and the Blind Forest, State of Decay 2, and The Elder Scrolls Online. The data didn’t show any games from developers other than Xbox Game Studios.
So, I heard through the grapevine that Sharma’s really been trying to make Game Pass more appealing to everyone – like, get more people to sign up. Apparently, he was even talking to Greg Peters, one of the bosses at Netflix, about maybe combining Game Pass with Netflix into one subscription. That would be pretty awesome, honestly – get two services for a better price!
Peters explained that any solution needs to benefit both customers and the companies involved. He added that Microsoft is still exploring how to make its Game Pass offering successful for itself. However, he praised Asha’s approach, which focuses on finding ways to expand and improve, and noted he’s been impressed with the progress so far.
Game Pass last changed prices in October, when Microsoft created three different plans: Essential, Premium, and Ultimate. The Essential plan costs $9.99 a month and includes access to over 50 games. The Premium plan is $14.99 a month and offers more than 200 games. The most expensive option, Ultimate, costs $29.99 a month and gives you over 400 games, plus access to more than 75 new games on the day they are released.
The price increase sparked criticism from many, including Laura Fryer, a co-founder of the original Microsoft Game Studios.
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2026-04-20 14:41