Microsoft's new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is considering making Game Pass cheaper after last year's price hike — "lower-priced tiers" could be on the way

Last month brought the news that after nearly 12 years leading Xbox and after almost 40 at Microsoft, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer is stepping down, and has been succeeded by the firm's CoreAI Product president Asha Sharma. Sharma has already made waves by committing to Xbox's console business in the face of uncertainty and hinting at the potential return of Xbox exclusives, and according to a new report, she's considering some major changes to Xbox Game Pass as well.

As reported by The Information, Sharma is "considering ways to make future consoles and products like Game Pass more enticing to a broader range of customers." One potential avenue for this she's allegedly evaluating is to introduce "lower-priced tiers" of Microsoft's gaming subscription service, making it more accessible.

Notably, this news comes after Microsoft infamously hiked the monthly price of Game Pass last fall, expanding Xbox Cloud Gaming access and introducing Ubisoft+ Classics games to the mix but controversially increasing the cost of PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The price of the former rose about 37% ($11.99 to $16.49), while the latter climbed a steep 50% ($19.99 to $29.99).

Cheaper tiers include the basic $9.99/month Xbox Game Pass Essential and the $14.99/month Xbox Game Pass Premium, though Sharma may be exploring ways to offer other less expensive tiers or overhaul these existing ones. Theoretically, cheaper options might not include certain benefits, or could feature ads; notably, we exclusively reported earlier this year that Xbox Cloud Gaming will get ad-supported access in 2026.

The implementation of an ad-driven tier of Xbox Game Pass would be quite a major new addition to the service, and may raise some eyebrows. It would make sense, though — TV and film streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, and others have tiers like this, after all — and reportedly, Sharma isn't being deterred from experimentation by what's considered standard in the gaming industry.

"She wants to retain what makes Xbox great, but at the same time, she’s willing to question everything," said vice president of Xbox gaming devices and ecosystem Jason Ronald. "If you’ve been in the industry or in a certain role for a really long time, sometimes you build blinders where it’s like, 'Oh, well, the industry just works that way.' She doesn’t come in with those biases."

Sharma and Microsoft looking for viable ways to bring more gamers into the Game Pass fold makes sense, especially with the service's growth slowing in recent years, Microsoft's multiplatform Xbox strategy with devices like the Xbox Ally handheld and the upcoming Project Helix console-PC hybrid, and an earlier report that the company wants to "expand" Game Pass.

It's still unclear how exactly Xbox will go about accomplishing that goal, but however it does, we may see some options for bundle deals with Netflix as well. In the same report, it was revealed that Sharma has allegedly been in talks with Netflix CEO Greg Peters, and that the two have "kicked around ideas" for a partnership.

🗨️ Would this get you to subscribe to Game Pass?

The big price hike to Xbox Game Pass last year was extremely controversial, and drove many users away from Microsoft's subscription service. Therefore, it makes sense that the new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma would be looking for ways to make Game Pass more attractive, and offering more affordable tiers is a bit of a no-brainer approach to that goal.

If there were more less expensive tiers of Xbox Game Pass, would that get you to sign up for a membership? I'd like to hear from you, so comment below and vote in our poll!

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