Microsoft could be preparing a major Xbox Game Pass overhaul that lowers the main subscription price but removes some of the service’s most important benefits, according to a new unconfirmed rumor.
The reported changes include a $19.99 monthly Game Pass tier without ads, a cheaper $12.99 ad supported option and the removal of day one releases for new games.
Cloud gaming would also reportedly stop being included with standard Game Pass subscriptions and instead become a separate paid add on.
None of these changes have been officially confirmed by Microsoft, so the details should be treated as a rumor for now.
| Reported plan | Rumored price or change |
|---|---|
| Game Pass with ads | $12.99 per month |
| Game Pass without ads | $19.99 per month |
| Annual plan | $239.99 |
| Game library plus online multiplayer | $14.99 per month |
| Online multiplayer only | $10.99 per month |
| Cloud gaming add on | $5.99 for 25 hours |
| Family plan add on | $5.99 per month |
| Day one new releases | Reportedly removed |
Day one releases could be removed entirely
The biggest reported change is the end of day one releases for new games.
For years, one of the main selling points of Game Pass has been access to selected new Xbox titles on the same day they launch.
Under the rumored system, that benefit would disappear.
The information claims Microsoft could begin removing day one launches sometime between February and April, although the exact timing remains uncertain.
If accurate, this would significantly change the value of the subscription for people who primarily use Game Pass to play new releases without buying them separately.
Microsoft has already reduced day one access in some areas. New Call of Duty releases, for example, have recently been separated from parts of the Game Pass structure.
The latest rumor suggests that approach could eventually apply more broadly.
Main Game Pass tier could fall to $19.99
The standard ad free Game Pass subscription is reportedly set to cost $19.99 per month, with an annual option priced at $239.99.
That would represent a modest price reduction compared with the current higher priced tier described in the report.
However, the lower price would come with fewer features.
The rumored ad supported tier would cost $12.99 per month.
There could also be a $14.99 option offering access to the Game Pass library and online multiplayer, giving subscribers another middle tier.
Online multiplayer by itself would reportedly cost $10.99 per month.
The final structure could therefore be much more modular than the current system.
Cloud gaming may become a separate purchase
Another major part of the rumor concerns Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Instead of being included with Game Pass, cloud streaming would reportedly become its own optional add on.
The claimed price is $5.99 for 25 hours of cloud gaming.
That would represent a significant shift because cloud access has been closely connected to higher Game Pass tiers.
The change is also notable because Microsoft recently announced reduced monthly cloud gaming hour limits rather than removing cloud access altogether.
That makes this part of the rumor less clear, especially if the company has already communicated a different cloud strategy.
Family access could also become an add on
A family plan is reportedly being considered at an additional $5.99 per month.
Details about how many accounts or devices would be supported were not provided.
If the information is accurate, Microsoft appears to be moving toward a subscription system where customers pay separately for individual features rather than receiving everything through one premium plan.
That could make the base price look lower while increasing the total cost for people who want cloud gaming, family access and other extras.
The rumor has some history behind it, but remains unconfirmed
The person behind the claim has reportedly shared accurate Game Pass information in the past, including earlier changes involving Core and Standard tiers.
Another established gaming insider also noted that the source appears to have access to genuine information about Microsoft’s subscription plans.
That adds some credibility, but it does not confirm that every detail or date is correct.
Internal plans can change before launch, particularly when pricing and subscription structures are involved.
For now, the most important reported changes are the possible removal of day one games, a reduction of the main tier to $19.99 and the separation of cloud gaming into its own paid add on.
If Microsoft confirms these changes, Game Pass would move away from the all inclusive model that helped define the service and toward a more segmented subscription structure.
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