A leak reveals drastic changes in Xbox Game Pass: price hike, new plans and ad-supported option

Important leak anticipates changes in Xbox Game Pass: new levels, price hike and advertising.

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Xbox Game Pass could be on the verge of one of its biggest transformations. According to a leak published on ResetEra, Microsoft is planning significant changes to its subscription service: from new tiers with ads to a price increase for the Ultimate plan and modifications to how day-one games are accessed.

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Although there’s no official confirmation, the topic has gained traction after a well-known industry insider responded to the thread with a gesture suggesting that the changes could be real, although perhaps with different prices than what we’re reporting.

What changes are mentioned in the leak for Xbox Game Pass?

The shared information points to a complete redesign of the Xbox Game Pass plans:

• PC Game Pass would disappear to be unified into two tiers: Standard and Core.

• Only Ultimate would maintain access to day-one releases.

• Game Pass Ultimate would increase to $25 per month, although this increase could be delayed until 2026.

• New names for the subscriptions, inspired by PlayStation Plus:

  • Game Pass Core → Essential

  • Game Pass Standard → Premium

• Two new tiers in 2026:

  • One cheaper with ads.

  • Another free or almost free, limited to streaming with restricted time and advertising.

• Cloud gaming would be included in all tiers.

Possible new prices for Xbox Game Pass

A new future for Xbox Game Pass

If confirmed, these changes would mark a significant shift in Microsoft’s strategy with Xbox Game Pass. Until now, access to day-one games was one of the service’s main selling points, but with this adjustment, it would be limited to the most expensive plan.

For now, this is just a rumor without official confirmation, but it aligns with other recent moves, such as the removal of auto-renewal with Microsoft Rewards or the adjustments to point tasks. In any case, it will be necessary to wait for Xbox to comment to know what’s true about this leak.