Game Pass has become too expensive, says the new CEO of Xbox

According to a report from The Verge, the new CEO of Xbox, Asha Sharma, acknowledged in an internal memo that the Xbox Game Pass service has become too expensive for players. This is a significant stance, especially considering that Sharma has only been at the helm for a few months and that the service is one of the cornerstones of Microsoft's gaming strategy.

In the message directed to employees, Sharma emphasized how Game Pass is central to the value offered by Xbox, but also how the current model is not definitive.

Specifically, she stated that in the short term, the service has become "too costly for players", highlighting the need to find a better balance between price and content. In the long term, however, the aim would be to transform Game Pass into a more flexible system, although this will require time and experimentation.

Further details on Xbox Game Pass prices and rates

In recent months, many users have expressed dissatisfaction with price increases: Microsoft has indeed adjusted the rates twice in about 15 months. Nevertheless, the catalog continues to expand with significant titles. Recent additions include independent productions like Hades 2 and projects like Kiln, in addition to major productions such as the remake of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.

The inclusion of the renowned Call of Duty series in the catalog may have impacted the costs of the service. According to sources cited by The Verge, offering titles of this caliber through subscription could reduce revenues derived from traditional sales, thus prompting Microsoft to raise prices to compensate.

It is still unclear what concrete changes will be made to Game Pass. Among the hypotheses, there is talk of a greater segmentation of the offering, with new subscription levels. However, an overly complex structure could further discourage users. In any case, the fact that the problem is recognized internally represents an important signal.