Microsoft may be preparing a substantial redesign of Xbox Game Pass. The subscription service has already changed this year, with day-one Call of Duty access removed in return for a lower price. A broader restructuring could now be on the way.
Game Pass could become more modular
According to Fortune, CEO Asha Sharma wants to move Game Pass away from a single, all-inclusive subscription model towards a more flexible à la carte system. The service would continue using tiers, while allowing members to choose additional features based on what they actually use.
Potential add-ons could include cloud gaming, multiplayer access and console-exclusive games. That approach would give subscribers more control over their monthly cost, while allowing Microsoft to charge more for heavily used parts of the service.
For players comparing different ways to enjoy classic and modern games, the changing subscription landscape may also make dedicated hardware more appealing. RETROCADE’s arcade news covers developments across the wider gaming industry, while an arcade machine buying guide can help households assess alternatives to ongoing digital subscriptions.
Advertising and day-one releases
The proposed structure would also align with Microsoft’s reported testing of an ad-supported Game Pass tier. A cheaper entry point could attract people who are interested in gaming but do not consider themselves dedicated players.
At the same time, Microsoft may gradually remove more first-party releases from the day-one Game Pass offering. The company has already moved in that direction through Premium Edition Upgrades, which cost $30 for early access to games that arrive on Game Pass at no additional charge only a few days later.
That strategy resembles a split between basic access and premium timing: subscribers can still receive the game through the service, while players who want to play first pay extra. It is a model that could become increasingly important if the subscription is divided into more carefully selected components.
A growth problem for Xbox
Leaked internal charts reportedly showed that Microsoft once aimed for more than 100 million Game Pass subscribers. Growth is said to have stalled at roughly 35 million, with the wider Xbox business model for this console generation subsequently losing momentum.
The next major group of Xbox releases begins with Fable in February 2027. If the reported plans are accurate, Microsoft could formally introduce the Game Pass overhaul before that release arrives.
For arcade enthusiasts, the broader lesson is familiar: access models continue to evolve, but owning a dedicated machine remains a different proposition from paying for a rotating catalogue. RETROCADE’s arcade machines provide another way to build a games room around hardware rather than a subscription.
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