Rumors indicate that Microsoft could pull day one games from Game Pass starting next year, and the company has issued a statement responding to the buzz.
Game Pass may lose its defining feature next year, at least if rumors are accurate. Anonymous sources on gaming forum ResetERA say that Game Pass will have two versions in 2027: an ad version for $12.99/month, and Ultimate at $19.99, with day one game releases removed.
This would be a dramatic move that would shift the value of Game Pass while also adding advertisements into the mix, which would be a first for a console video game subscription. Microsoft has responded with a measured statement to Forbes' Paul Tassi, acknowledging that it's always experimenting with new Game Pass structures, but no changes have been confirmed.
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"We regularly test different Game Pass offerings and look at what works best for players in different markets. We don't have any changes to announce today or plans that have been finalized. There are no changes to previously announced games coming to Game Pass Ultimate on day one."
Microsoft has made lots of changes to Xbox since its new CEO Asha Sharma took over, including Game Pass reform. Shortly after taking over, Sharma lowered the price of Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 per month to $22.99 per month, removing Call of Duty as a day one game.
This adjustment would be the biggest shift, though, because the rumors indicate that some sort of lower-cost ad-supported option would be offered for a significantly cheaper price.
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Other major adjustments at Xbox include mass layoffs, with 1,600 in FY26 and another 1,600 layoffs planned for FY27, which facilitated restructuring to lead to a more agile Xbox with less managerial oversight.
