Microsoft Gaming has a brand new CEO, with Asha Sharma taking on for Phil Spencer, and one massive transfer she is reportedly contemplating is a change to Xbox Game Pass to make it inexpensive.
The Information reported that one in every of her ambitions is to assist make “future consoles and merchandise like Game Pass extra attractive to a broader vary of consumers.” To that finish, the report stated Sharma may look to revamp pricing fashions for Game Pass to “provide lower-priced tiers.”
In October 2025, Microsoft raised Game Pass costs, with Game Pass Final going up by a whopping 50% to $30/month. Game Pass Premium, in the meantime, prices $15/month, whereas Game Pass Important goes for $10/month. PC Game Pass prices $16.50 per 30 days.
When it comes to a lower-priced tier for Game Pass, it has been reported that Microsoft may provide an ad-based tier for Game Pass sooner or later. In reality, it was reported that individuals might be able to watch adverts in alternate for enjoying Game Pass titles free of charge.
Plenty of different leisure providers provide ad-based tiers which are free or discounted in comparison with the ad-free variations, with one prime instance being Netflix. Its plan with adverts begins at $8/month, which is a hefty low cost in comparison with the Normal plan ($18/month).
GameSpot has contacted Microsoft in an try to get clarification on the recommendations made in The Data’s piece.
A Netflix partnership?
Intriguingly, in the identical report, Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters stated he and Sharma have “kicked round concepts” for the way Netflix and Xbox may work collectively on subscription bundles. Nothing has been confirmed, however Peters stated he “would not remove any prospects.”
“You would need to do it in a method that works for the patron and works for each firms, and albeit, I believe Microsoft’s nonetheless making an attempt to determine how you can make the Game Pass bundle work for Microsoft,” Peters stated. “However what I like about Asha’s pondering is, it is all about, ‘How can we do extra?’ And it’s already been thrilling to observe.”
In different information, it was reported in the identical piece that one in every of Sharma’s first selections as Microsoft Gaming CEO was to kill off the “This Is An Xbox” marketing campaign, which individuals had quite a lot of emotions about. The marketing campaign was quietly scrubbed from Microsoft’s web sites shortly after Sharma took over as the brand new Microsoft Gaming CEO in February.