Microsoft Gaming has a new CEO, and one of the first changes under discussion focuses on pricing. Asha Sharma, who recently took over the division, wants to make Xbox Game Pass more appealing to a wider audience, and that includes exploring lower-priced subscription tiers. The move comes after a series of price increases in 2025 that pushed Game Pass costs higher across all plans.
The Information reported that Sharma aims to make “future consoles and products like Game Pass more enticing to a broader range of customers,” with a possible shift toward “offer lower-priced tiers.” That direction signals a clear attempt to bring in new users while easing concerns from existing subscribers who felt the impact of recent price hikes.
The idea sounds simple, but execution will matter. If Microsoft reduces prices in a meaningful way, it can rebuild trust with players. If it only rolls prices back to earlier levels, users will notice and react accordingly, especially since the last increase still feels recent.
Cheaper Game Pass tiers could look like
Microsoft is not just thinking about lower prices. The company is also exploring new ways to structure Game Pass. One option includes bundling the service with other platforms like Netflix, which could turn Game Pass into a broader entertainment package.
Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters said discussions are open, noting he “wouldn’t eliminate any possibilities” when it comes to working with Xbox. A bundled plan would appeal to users who already use their consoles for streaming and media, not just gaming.
Another option involves ad-supported plans. Microsoft is considering a model where users either pay less or access Game Pass for free in exchange for watching ads. This approach already works for streaming services, and Microsoft sees it as a way to lower the barrier to entry.
From the report:
To try to win over new gamers, Sharma has been considering ways to make future consoles and products like Game Pass more enticing to a broader range of customers, including potentially revamping pricing models to offer lower-priced tiers.
At the same time, Sharma has made it clear she wants growth without sacrificing quality.
She vowed not to “chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop,” and instead plans to invest more in game development and take risks.
That balance will define how these changes land. Lower prices can attract users, but the value of Game Pass still depends on strong games and consistent updates.
