With costs going up everywhere, it’s unusual for anything to become cheaper, particularly in the world of video games. But a recent report suggests that Xbox Game Pass might actually see a price decrease under its new leadership.
A recent report by The Information, highlighted by IGN, details the plans of new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma for the company’s subscription service. Sources who have spoken with Sharma say she aims to attract more customers by making consoles and services like Game Pass more appealing, potentially through new, lower-cost subscription options.
The report indicates that Sharma has reportedly discussed potential subscription bundles with Netflix CEO Greg Peters. These bundles would likely combine Netflix with Xbox Game Pass, similar to how other streaming services like HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, and Paramount+ offer packages. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate already includes EA Access, meaning Xbox has experience partnering with other services to enhance its offerings.
According to The Information, Sharma met with independent game developers and other industry leaders to emphasize her commitment to growing Xbox, not dismantling it. This echoes a recent comparison made by Xbox co-creator Seamus Blackley, who described Sharma as providing comfort and support to the Xbox brand, similar to a palliative care nurse.
There Are Already Many Xbox Game Pass Tiers
The report doesn’t explain Sharma’s specific plans for making Xbox Game Pass more affordable. Some streaming services offer cheaper plans with ads, and others, like Tubi, rely entirely on advertising. While it’s unknown if this would apply to Game Pass, Xbox has been adding ads to many of its products, so it’s a possibility. Another option could be a lower-priced version of Game Pass that only offers games through cloud streaming.
It’s also uncertain how many different Game Pass options would remain. Currently, there are four levels: Game Pass Essential, Premium, PC Game Pass, and Ultimate, costing $9.99, $14.99, $16.49, and $29.99 monthly, respectively. The Essential tier offers limited access to games and no new releases on day one, while Ultimate provides full access to games on both PC and Xbox, plus benefits like EA Play and Ubisoft+ Classics. Given that the Xbox division needs to maintain a 30% profit margin, it’s highly improbable that prices would be lowered without some changes to the service.
If Xbox were to lower the price of Game Pass, it would be a significant shift from their recent strategy. Over the past few years, the price of Game Pass Ultimate has steadily increased – from $9.99 in 2017 to $16.99, then $19.99, and recently to $29.99. These increases, especially the latest one, haven’t been popular with gamers. This happened alongside two price hikes for the Xbox Series X|S consoles within the same year. Considering ongoing global issues and economic instability, costs are likely to remain unpredictable, making any potential price cut for Game Pass a noteworthy development.
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2026-03-26 01:20