Microsoft wants to add more advantages to Xbox Game Pass in 2026 with all this

The subscription could add external services and new formulas without creating a totally new plan.

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The 25th anniversary of Xbox won’t just be marked by major releases and new devices. According to information published by Tom Warren, Microsoft is also working on expanding the benefits of Xbox Game Pass throughout 2026, in a move that could redefine the service’s value proposition.

Although no radical changes are expected immediately, there are clear signs that the company is studying ways to strengthen its flagship subscription after the price increase applied last October.

More benefits for Game Pass without creating a new level

Sources indicate that Microsoft is exploring integrating third-party services into Game Pass, as well as simplifying its current structure. Among the possibilities being considered:

• Unifying Xbox Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass

• Including more external benefits within the subscription

• Complementing Game Pass with free access to Xbox Cloud Gaming with ads

• Boosting cloud gaming with new controllers featuring direct Wi-Fi connectivity

Importantly, this wouldn’t involve creating a new plan from scratch, but rather improving the current ecosystem and making it more coherent, especially now that Xbox is strengthening its commitment to PC, cloud, and devices like Xbox Ally.

• Microsoft already integrated PC games into the various plans last fall, although the price of PC Game Pass increased by around 40% to cover the cost of Day One releases. Nevertheless, growth on PC continues, and the company is aware that it needs to clarify its offering if Xbox’s future is tied to a more Windows-like model.

2026 will be a pivotal year for the platform, with major franchises on the way and changes in hardware and software. Game Pass remains the central pillar, and everything suggests that Microsoft wants to make it more attractive, more comprehensive, and better integrated into its long-term vision.