Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has revealed that Microsoft’s gaming division plans to introduce more flexible Xbox Game Pass offerings to better accommodate different types of players. Sharma previously made headlines in April 2026 when she lowered Xbox Game Pass subscription prices, a move that was generally well received by gamers. However, the price reduction came with a notable tradeoff, as Call of Duty titles will no longer be included as day-one releases on the service.
Xbox Game Pass currently offers four subscription options: Ultimate, Premium, Essential, and a PC-exclusive tier. Essential is the most affordable plan at $9.99 per month, while Ultimate is the most expensive at $22.99 per month. Recently, multiple rumors have suggested that additional plans and subscription tiers could be added to the lineup. And Sharma’s latest comments may lend further credibility to those reports.
Xbox Reveals Huge Number of Lost Game Pass Subscriptions Following 2025 Price Hike
Xbox Game Pass apparently has a lot less subscribers than it used to, thanks to a major price increase that happened back in 2025.
Xbox CEO Hints at New Game Pass Offerings Coming This Summer
“We’ll be doing more this summer to create more flexible offerings that meet the needs of all types of players,” Asha Sharma said in a recent interview with YouTube channel Fortune Conversations. The new Xbox CEO did not elaborate on what these offerings might entail for the future of Xbox Game Pass. However, many have interpreted her comments as a hint at new subscription tiers, potentially something similar to the rumored Game Pass Starter edition, which is said to be a lower-cost tier bundled with Discord Nitro. For now, though, these remain unconfirmed reports, and it is unclear what the upcoming flexible offerings will look like.
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Based on Sharma’s comments, Game Pass may not be the only part of Microsoft’s gaming business set for changes in the near future. She said the company will continue exploring new business models for Xbox consoles as well, arguing that the industry needs more than simply delivering the most premium, high-performance console possible.
Sharma also noted that it is becoming increasingly difficult to imagine mass-market audiences spending thousands of dollars on a single console generation, suggesting that the gaming industry could see “radically different business models” emerge this year. Her remarks carry added significance given that Microsoft has already confirmed it is working on its next generation of Xbox consoles, currently codenamed Project Helix.
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Sharma also reiterated her comments regarding Xbox Game Pass’ previous price increases, stating that the service had “simply become too unaffordable.” She added that Xbox has “been able to see a return to growth on Game Pass,” a claim echoed in a recent memo sent to Team Xbox employees. In the memo, Sharma wrote, “Our Game Pass team set to work fixing our offering, and after 8+ months of decline, our service has started to grow again.”
However, Sharma’s plans for the future of Xbox, also outlined in the memo, suggest layoffs may be on the horizon for Microsoft’s gaming division. She noted that the division has spent more than $20 billion on ongoing investments over the past five years, while annual revenue has declined by nearly half a billion dollars. That said, one encouraging takeaway from Sharma’s comments is her statement that “Game Pass is at the heart of gaming,” which suggests Microsoft remains committed to the subscription service and is likely to continue investing in its future.
