Microsoft Gaming's New CEO Delivers a Notable Message Targeting Game Pass Pricing

An internal memo from Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma was recently leaked and posted on social media, suggesting that Game Pass is likely to see positive pricing changes.

Xbox Game Pass pricing is subject to change.

Currently, Xbox Game Pass users   pay a monthly fee to access a variety of games, including Day-One titles (released simultaneously on Game Pass and other platforms) from Microsoft or its developers. Common prices range from $10 per month for the Essential plan to a maximum of $30 for the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate plan – an increase of $10 from before.

However, according to recent notes from Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma, this number is likely to change for the better. Specifically, according to a leaked internal memo sent to Xbox employees  (  first reported by The Verge), Sharma stated,  "In short, Game Pass has become too expensive for players, so we need a better solution."  She believes the viable long-term solution for Xbox Game Pass is to develop it  "into a more flexible system, which will require time to experiment and learn." 

She also confirmed that she would discuss the matter further with other Xbox staff, but stated that immediate changes were unlikely. Furthermore, it remains unclear how user benefits will be adjusted in the future.

It is unlikely to have an immediate impact.

Previously, Sharma had also admitted that she was aware of the need for more console exclusive games for Xbox, despite Microsoft's efforts to bring games like and to the PS5. When responding to such a request on social media, she simply said,  "Heard you." 

Given that Xbox's next-generation console,  Project Helix,  is still in development, it may take more time to see how Microsoft invests in console-exclusive games for the system. It's noteworthy that this information leaked just days after rumors surfaced about the possibility of it not appearing on Game Pass.

With  Call of Duty Black Ops 7  launching as a Day-One game on Game Pass, this move is likely to cost Microsoft millions of dollars in revenue. But that's just a rumor for now.

Regardless of any significant changes to Xbox Game Pass in the future, the service will continue to offer a wide variety of games to users. Let's wait and see what benefits Microsoft's next move might bring in the future.