The topics are:
1. A New Era: The Shift in Leadership
2.The Truth Behind the Xbox Game Pass Cost Increase
3.Asha Sharma’s Leaked Internal Memo
4.The 2025 Price Hike: By the Numbers
5.What Does the Future Hold for Subscribers?
Table of Contents
- A New Era: The Shift in Leadership
- The Truth Behind the Xbox CEO Game Pass Cost Increase
- Asha Sharma’s Leaked Internal Memo
- The 2025 Price Hike: By the Numbers
- What Does the Future Hold for Subscribers?
- Conclusion
A New Era: The Shift in Leadership
The gaming community has been humming with urgent questions and it is time to set the record straight while regarding the leadership and financial direction of Microsoft’s gaming division. If you were searching for statements from Phil Spencer you might be surprised to learn that he officially stepped down in February 2026 after nearly 40 years with Microsoft.
The new head of Xbox is Asha Sharma and she has inherited a complex situation. Recently a leaked internal memo from Sharma has sent pressure wave through the industry. The primary subject? The massive backlash surrounding the Xbox Game Pass Cost that took effect late last year.
(Above: The gaming community is reacting strongly to the latest subscription changes and price hikes.)
If you want to read more about how subscription services are reshaping entertainment. You can check out our internal guide to the digital gaming revolution.
The Truth Behind the Xbox Game Pass Cost Increase
To understand the current situation we have to look at what happened in October 2025. Microsoft approved a steep price hike across its subscription tiers. Motivated largely by the addition of massive blockbuster titles like Call of Duty to the day one library.
This Xbox Game Pass Cost was met with immediate frustration from players. The top tier “Ultimate” plan shot up by 50%, jumping from $19.99 to a staggering $29.99 per month. At the same time the tiers were renamed into Essential, Premium and Ultimate.
For the latest official press releases on Microsoft’s broader corporate strategies you can always visit the official Microsoft News Center.
Asha Sharma’s Leaked Internal Memo
In mid-April 2026, a leaked internal memo which was obtained by The Verge revealed that Asha Sharma is sharply aware of the community’s frustration. Her candid statements admit that the recent Xbox Game Pass Cost has created a severe barrier for casual players.
“Game Pass is the central to gaming value on Xbox. It’s also clear that the current model isn’t the final one,” Sharma wrote to employees.
She continued with the most shocking revelation: “Short term, Game Pass has become too expensive for players, so we need a better value equation. Long term, we will evolve Game Pass into a more flexible system which will take time to test and learn around.”
This is a massive going from the previous administration’s talking points which consistently defended the price hikes by pointing to the absolute volume of games added to the service.
The 2025 Price Hike: By the Numbers
Now let’s break down exactly why this Xbox Game Pass cost increase became a rewarding point for consumers. When the prices shifted in October 2025 the landscape of Xbox subscriptions changed significantly:
- Game Pass Ultimate: Increased to $29.99/month (£22.99).
- PC Game Pass: Increased to $16.50/month (or 14.99 euros).
- Essential Tier: Set at $10.00/month, but lacks day-one releases.
- Premium Tier: Set at $15.00/month, merging older console and PC benefits.
By removing the 12 month subscription option that previously allowed players to save money, Microsoft forced users into a stiffing and expensive monthly cycle. This led to a noticeable departure of subscribers prompting Sharma’s urgent review.
What Does the Future Hold for Subscribers?
Because the Xbox Game Pass cost increase is now officially considered “too expensive” internally. Microsoft is scrambling to develop a “flexible system.” But what does that actually mean for your wallet?
Industry insiders and rumors suggest several unbelievable changes are currently being tested:
- Ad-Supported Tiers: Following the trend of Netflix and Hulu Xbox may introduce a heavily discounted (or even free) tier subsidized by advertisements.
- First-Party Only Subscriptions: Instead of access to 500+ games a cheaper tier might offer only 80 to 120 first party Microsoft titles excluding costly third party additions.
- The Call of Duty Factor: There are strong rumors that future Call of Duty titles might be removed from the day one Game Pass offering or locked behind an exclusive add on fee to lower the baseline cost for everyone else.
Furthermore Sharma is already restructuring Xbox’s marketing which having recently scrapped the underperforming “This is an Xbox” campaign. While duplicating down on the upcoming next gen hardware known as “Project Helix.”
The Epic Xbox Game pass Top 30 List
Halo Infinite – Retail Cost: $59.99 | Master Chief returns in this expansive and epic open world sci-fi shooter.
Forza Horizon 6 (Japan) – Retail: $69.99 The newest entry in the racing saga. It features a stunning and photorealistic open world Japan with neon lit streets and cherry blossom mountains.
Hades II – Retail: $29.99 | Melinoe the Princess of the Underworld, battles the Titan of Time in this fast-paced, addictive and beautifully written rogue like sequel.
Fable (2025 Reboot) – Retail: $69.99 | A triumphant return to Albion. It blends dark humor with deep RPG mechanics which is allowing players to truly shape the world through their moral choices
Avowed – Retail: $69.99 | Obsidian’s first-person fantasy epic set in the world of Eora. It offers complex branching narratives and a deep magic combat system.
Starfield: Shattered Space – Retail: $69.99 | The massive expansion included in Game Pass. It adds a darker and more focused narrative on the mystery of House Va’ruun across new star systems.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty – Retail: $59.99 | Now a permanent fixture this sci-fi masterpiece offers a spy thriller story in the dangerous Dogtown district of Night City.
Hollow Knight: Silksong – Retail: $24.99 The long awaited sequel where you play as Hornet. It features a new kingdom to explore and faster combat and hundreds of new enemies.
NBA 2K26 – Retail: $69.99 | The gold standard for sports sims. It features an overhauled MyCAREER mode and the most realistic player physics to date.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Retail: $59.99 | A revolutionary turn based RPG where you use real time reactions to dodge and parry in a world inspired by Belle Epoque France.
Gears of War: E-Day – Retail: $69.99 | A prequel showing the horror of the initial Locust emergence. It returns the series to its survival horror roots with gritty and brutal combat.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered – Retail: $39.99 | A nostalgic trip through Cyrodiil with updated lighting, 4K textures and refined combat mechanics for modern consoles.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare IV – Retail: $69.99 | The cornerstone of the current Xbox game pass value. It offers a cinematic campaign and the industry’s most robust multiplayer ecosystem.
State of Decay 3 – Retail: $59.99 | A massive jump in fidelity and scope. This zombie survival sim focuses on ecosystem interaction, base building and permanent consequences.
South of Midnight – Retail: $59.99 | A third person action adventure set in a magical realist American South. It features a unique stop motion art style and haunting folk music.
Doom: The Dark Ages – Retail: $69.99 | A prequel to the modern reboots. You play as the Doom Slayer in a medieval inspired setting using a shield saw and a dragon mounted flamethrower.
Persona 4 Revival – Retail: $49.99 | A modern remake of the cult classic. It features updated social links a completely redone dungeon system and high fidelity 3D models.
Minecraft 2.0 – Retail: $29.99 | The next generation of the world’s most popular game. It introduces a new engine with dynamic physics, advanced lighting and infinite vertical building.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition – Retail: $49.99 | The definitive version of Geralt’s journey now including all 2026 “Next-Gen Plus” patches and every expansion.
Clockwork Revolution – Retail: $69.99 | A steampunk RPG where you use a time travel device to alter the history of the city of Avalon, seeing the immediate consequences of your actions.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 – Retail: $69.99 | More than just flying, this version introduces career paths like firefighting, search and rescue and commercial transport.
Lies of P: The Golden Child – Retail: $59.99 | The massive DLC for the hit Soulslike. It expands the story of Pinocchio into new even more twisted mechanical environments.
Dead Space 2 (Remake) – Retail: $69.99 | Following the success of the first remake Isaac Clarke returns to the Sprawl in a terrifying and high fidelity nightmare.
A Plague Tale: Requiem – Retail: $59.99 | A harrowing and emotional journey through medieval France. It features groundbreaking rat tech and a powerful story of sibling survival.
Cities: Skylines III – Retail: $49.99 | The ultimate city builder. It introduces climate change mechanics and deeper traffic AI and more granular zoning laws.
Resident Evil Requiem – Retail: $69.99 | A new mainline entry in the RE series. It features a return to slow burn horror in a gothic and abandoned European coastal town.
Hollow Knight – Retail: $14.99 | The indie masterpiece that defined a genre. Its inclusion remains a key pillar for those who want a deep and challenging experience.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps – Retail: $29.99 | One of the most beautiful games ever made. It combines precision platforming with a story that will leave you in tears.
Vampire Survivors 2 – Retail: $4.99 | The ultimate one more round game. Simple controls but infinite depth. Now with 4 player local and online co-op.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition – Retail: $59.99 | Three of the greatest RPGs ever made in one package. It is an essential sci-fi epic that every subscriber should experience.
Conclusion: The Future of Subscription Gaming
The Xbox Game Pass journey is far from over. While the $29.99 price tag is a sour medicine to swallow for some. The absolute extent of content—from Hades II to Forza Horizon 6—makes it a difficult service to abandon. As Asha Sharma looks to the future; we can expect more “flexible” options that aim to bring back those who left during the 2025 price hike.
