Microsoft is reportedly planning a significant overhaul of its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, moving toward an à la carte model that would let subscribers select specific features through a tiered structure. Details of the proposed restructuring emerged from a new profile of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma.
Under the reported strategy, the revamped service would allow players to choose add-ons tailored to their preferences, including options for console-only games, cloud gaming, and online multiplayer access. The prospective changes aim to address internal challenges that have accompanied the growth of the Netflix-style monthly gaming platform.
While Game Pass successfully established a major subscription business for Xbox, it has also resulted in the cannibalization of sales for higher-priced first-party game titles, particularly during critical launch windows. According to former employees, competing internal metrics between different corporate teams—such as subscription revenue versus traditional store revenue—further complicated these financial dynamics.
The reported subscription strategy forms part of a broader series of strategic shifts under Sharma, who has been in the role for approximately six months. During her tenure, the division has reduced the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, secured Hideo Kojima’s next-generation spiritual successor project Physint, established two new verticals within Xbox, and transitioned the development responsibilities for the Halo franchise to Activision.
In addition to the prospective subscription changes, discussions surrounding future hardware development indicate that upcoming devices, including a next-generation handheld and the next-generation Project Helix console, are expected to carry high costs unless Microsoft chooses to subsidize retail pricing. Additional developments and official timelines regarding the Game Pass overhaul remain unconfirmed as internal restructuring efforts continue.
