Ashley Sharma, the new CEO of Xbox, is planning a major overhaul of the Xbox Game Pass subscription service. The scale of this reform exceeds previous adjustments that have already been implemented, such as the change ensuring new Call of Duty titles are no longer guaranteed day-one additions to the library.
According to internal information obtained by Fortune, Microsoft plans to revamp the current Game Pass model. In the future, players will be able to subscribe to individual features à la carte. After the reform, the service will retain its tiered framework, with cloud gaming, multiplayer online access, and console-exclusive game libraries offered as optional add-ons that can be purchased on top of the base package as needed.
In simple terms: players will no longer be required to buy the full bundled package; they will only pay for the features they actually use. Single-player-only users can skip the multiplayer access, and those who only play via cloud streaming can choose just the cloud gaming module.
Rumors had previously circulated that Microsoft was researching a lower-priced tier with ads, discussing whether to cancel the policy of adding first-party games to Xbox Game Pass (XGP) on day one, and planning several other changes, including a family plan. In April this year, news emerged that Microsoft was developing a "à la carte" style Game Pass, which aligns with the content of this report.
Ashley Sharma herself has publicly stated her desire to evolve Game Pass into a more flexible system. She also admitted that the aggressive strategy of betting heavily on Game Pass did not yield the expected returns, making the sweeping business adjustments understandable. The team has already implemented several changes, such as removing the new Call of Duty title from the XGP day-one lineup and adjusting prices for certain tiers.
Currently, the overall Xbox business environment is marked by conflicting goals among internal teams. While the subscription service generates recurring revenue, it also cannibalizes sales of premium, one-time purchase games. The Xbox division's overall profit margin remains low, and the company has planned multiple rounds of layoffs. Meanwhile, the next-generation console, Project Helix, and the Xbox handheld hardware project are both moving forward.