Xbox Game Pass could be heading for a major restructuring, with a new cheaper tier supported by ads, the removal of Day One releases, and cloud streaming becoming a separate add-on. The information was shared by a ResetEra moderator, although Microsoft has not officially confirmed these changes.
📉Game Pass With Ads Could Cost $12.99
According to the leak, Microsoft would introduce a new Game Pass tier costing $12.99 per month and supported by advertising. The exact format and placement of the ads have not been revealed, so it remains unclear whether they would appear in the Game Pass interface, before launching games, or elsewhere in the Xbox ecosystem.
A standard Game Pass subscription without ads would reportedly cost $19.99 per month or $239.99 per year. The price would be $3 lower than the current offering because new games would no longer be added to Game Pass on Day One.
❌No More Day One Games on Game Pass
One of the biggest changes would be the removal of Day One releases from Game Pass. According to the information shared, new games would no longer launch directly into the service, with the change expected to take place between February and April.
This would represent a significant change to one of Game Pass' biggest selling points, as subscribers currently get access to selected first-party and third-party releases on the day they launch.
☁️Cloud Gaming Could Become a Separate Add-On
Cloud Gaming has already undergone changes, with Xbox recently moving away from having cloud streaming available as a standard feature across Game Pass plans. According to the latest information, Microsoft could take this further by separating cloud streaming completely from the main subscription and offering it as a $5.99 add-on that includes 25 hours of cloud gaming.
💰Other Game Pass Options
Microsoft could also introduce a cheaper option focused exclusively on the Game Pass library and online multiplayer, reportedly costing $14.99 per month. A Family Plan would allegedly be available for an additional $5.99 per month.
For now, these details should be treated as a rumor. Microsoft has not officially announced a new Game Pass structure, the introduction of advertising, or the removal of Day One releases.