Xbox Game Pass “Too Expensive”? Microsoft May Be Planning Big Changes

Xbox’s new gaming boss Asha Sharma has told staff that Xbox Game Pass has now become too costly for many players, and signalled that Microsoft is preparing changes to the subscription. The memo, seen by The Verge, suggests the company is reassessing both pricing and what users receive.

Sharma described Game Pass as a key part of Xbox’s overall offer but accepted that the current setup needs work. “Game Pass is central to gaming value on Xbox. It's also clear that the current model isn't the final one," Sharma wrote in the internal note circulated to employees.

Xbox Game Pass Pricing Changes

In the memo, Sharma said Microsoft must rebalance what players pay against what they get. “Short term, Game Pass has become too expensive for players, so we need a better value equation. Long term, we will evolve Game Pass into a more flexible system which will take time to test and learn around."

Sharma also acknowledged the growing online debate about how much Xbox Game Pass now costs. The executive said there is a plan to speak in greater detail with Xbox teams next week, indicating that internal discussions on subscription models and benefits are already under way inside Microsoft.

Call of Duty Additions

Microsoft raised the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate by a large margin in 2023. That move counted among the biggest increases since Game Pass started. Microsoft defended the higher fees at the time by rolling out updates across several Game Pass tiers and pointing to extra content.

A significant factor behind the higher bills was Microsoft’s decision to include new Call of Duty releases within Xbox Game Pass. The company brought Call of Duty to Game Pass in the summer of 2024, positioning the blockbuster franchise as a major draw for subscribers across platforms.

Xbox Game Pass Future Strategy

There is now speculation that Microsoft might adjust that Call of Duty strategy. Jez Corden from Windows Central has suggested that Call of Duty could be taken off Game Pass at some stage. Such a move could allow Microsoft to rethink how the service balances premium releases against subscription costs.

Sharma’s memo indicates that Microsoft sees the present Xbox Game Pass model as a work in progress. Any future approach is expected to focus on flexibility, while attempting to restore a sense of value for players who faced sharp price rises after 2023 and the summer 2024 content additions.