A new Xbox memo points to a cheaper Game Pass path
A leaked internal memo reported by The Verge says Xbox leadership is considering a lower-priced Game Pass model after internal concerns that the service has become too expensive.
Xbox Game Pass may be heading toward a lower price point, based on a leaked internal memo that The Verge published on Microsoft and Xbox Game Pass. The memo reportedly includes comments from Asha Sharma, described there as Xbox’s new chief, saying the service has become too expensive and that Microsoft should look at a more flexible setup.
The timing matters here. Microsoft has already faced criticism over recent Game Pass price changes, and the idea of a cheaper tier lands at a moment when players are already debating how much value the service still offers. Game Pass built its reputation on day-one releases and a low monthly cost, but that formula has come under pressure as the price climbed.
What the memo does not spell out is just as important. Sharma reportedly did not lay out a firm plan for what would change or how a lower-priced version would be structured. That leaves the discussion open to a few possibilities, including a tier with fewer perks or a plan that trims some of the day-one library.
That is where the broader concern comes in. If Microsoft chooses to lower the price of Game Pass, it must clarify what cuts it will make to balance the equation. A lower bill sounds good on paper, but removing first-party day-one releases would hit the service where it matters most.
There is also a separate cloud hanging over Game Pass right now. Recent rumors suggest that Microsoft is reevaluating the integration of Call of Duty into the service, further reinforcing the notion that the company may be secretly revamping the offering. If that happens, the cheaper version of Game Pass could come with fewer marquee releases than subscribers have been used to.
For now, this remains a leak, not a confirmed policy change. Still, it is a clear sign that Microsoft is at least thinking about how much its subscription stack should cost and what players should get in return.
Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us whether a cheaper Game Pass would be worth it if it meant fewer day-one games. You can also join us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram.
