Xbox CEO says Game Pass is “too expensive” and needs changes in leaked internal memo

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The head of Xbox has acknowledged that Game Pass might be too expensive, and Microsoft is currently considering price adjustments.

I just saw this report from The Verge – apparently, the new head of Xbox, Asha Sharma, told her team that Game Pass is too pricey for a lot of us and needs a serious overhaul. It’s good to hear they’re recognizing that, honestly! Hopefully, we’ll see some changes soon to make it more affordable.

These remarks follow a significant price hike by Microsoft several months ago. They increased the monthly cost of Game Pass Ultimate to $29.99, a 50% increase that many users protested.

Xbox boss admits Game Pass pricing needs to change

According to a recent memo, Sharma stated that Game Pass is still a key part of Xbox’s strategy, but its current pricing isn’t viable in the long run.

Game Pass is key to getting the most value out of Xbox gaming, but Microsoft acknowledges the current system isn’t the finished product.

Right now, Game Pass costs too much for many players, so we need to offer better value. In the future, we plan to make Game Pass more adaptable, but it will take time to experiment and see what works best.

I’ve been seeing a lot of talk online about how much the game’s gonna cost, and the company knows it. They said they’re planning on giving us, the employees, more info about pricing in the next few weeks, so hopefully that’ll clear things up and address everyone’s concerns.

This announcement comes after Microsoft announced it will be increasing subscription prices in 2025. Game Pass Ultimate will rise to $30 a month, while other plans are currently priced at $15 for Premium, $10 for Essential, and $16.50 for PC Game Pass.

This news follows a recent report from The Information stating that Microsoft is looking into ways to offer Game Pass at a lower price.

A possible solution being explored is offering a subscription level where players can watch ads in exchange for lower prices or even free access to games. This is similar to how some streaming services, like Netflix, now offer a less expensive plan that includes advertisements.

The report also indicates Microsoft has been considering offering Game Pass as part of a Netflix subscription package.

Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters said the company has been talking with another about potential collaborations, but they haven’t made any firm decisions yet.

Peters explained that any solution needs to benefit both customers and the companies involved. Microsoft is still working on a Game Pass offering that’s advantageous for them.

Microsoft hasn’t announced any price changes to Game Pass yet, but recent statements suggest they’re planning to revamp the service and potentially change how it works.

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2026-04-13 22:50