Microsoft may be exploring a new, cheaper Game Pass tier that only includes games from Xbox's own first-party studios, according to a report from The Verge as covered by Pure Xbox. The option is currently described as "under consideration" and is just one of several ideas being floated internally.
The news follows a leaked report earlier this week suggesting that Xbox executive Asha Sharma believes Game Pass is too expensive and needs a "better value equation." That framing lines up with the logic of a lower-cost tier - strip out the third-party content, drop the price, and potentially bring in subscribers who previously balked at the current cost.
What this could mean for subscribers
A first-party-only tier would give players access to Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda titles without the broader library that the current Game Pass tiers provide. For Xbox loyalists who mostly play Microsoft-published games anyway - your Halo, Forza, Starfield crowd - that could actually be a solid deal depending on the price point.
The flip side is that this kind of segmentation risks fragmenting an already complicated subscription lineup. Xbox already has multiple Game Pass tiers and recently shuffled pricing, so adding yet another option could create more confusion than value for average consumers.
Still early days
It's worth tempering expectations here. "Under consideration" is a long way from announced, and Microsoft has a history of internally workshopping ideas that never make it to market. The Verge's report frames this as one of several potential approaches, not a decided direction.
Still, the fact that Xbox leadership is openly acknowledging that Game Pass needs work is notable. With PlayStation continuing to grow its own PS Plus subscriber base and the broader games industry tightening up, Microsoft has clear incentive to make its subscription offering more accessible at different price points.
We'll be keeping a close eye on any official movement from Xbox on this - whether that's a proper announcement or a quiet shelving of the idea.
