According to a detailed report by The Verge on Microsoft’s internal Xbox plans, Xbox Game Pass could expand in the future to include additional third-party services, along with further changes to its subscription structure.
The same article by Tom Warren also mentioned possible release windows for Gears of War: E-Day and the Halo remake, as well as the arrival of a new Xbox controller. Alongside these points, new information has emerged about Microsoft’s long-term plans for Game Pass.
In short, Microsoft is considering more adjustments to Game Pass following the major changes introduced last October, when the service was reorganized into three subscription tiers along with the widely discussed price increase for Game Pass Ultimate.
A Broader Subscription Offering
According to The Verge, these changes are not expected to happen this year but are currently being evaluated internally. They would mainly affect what is included in each Game Pass tier, focusing on how content is organized and distributed across subscriptions.
The rumored free Xbox Cloud Gaming tier with ads, which several sources claim is nearly ready to launch, would not be part of Game Pass. This means Microsoft is exploring other ideas separately from that initiative.
“While the free Xbox Cloud Gaming won’t be a new Game Pass tier, sources tell me Microsoft is in the early stages of exploring ways to expand its Game Pass subscription lineup,” wrote Tom Warren (thanks Pure Xbox).
“After a Game Pass Ultimate price hike in October, I understand that Microsoft is looking at ways to bundle third-party services with Game Pass subscriptions and potentially even merge Xbox Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass together. I wouldn’t expect to see any major changes to Game Pass this year, though.”
The merge between PC Game Pass and console tiers is already happening in practice, thanks to the increasing inclusion of PC games, though it is still unclear how this process will evolve.
One of the most interesting ideas is the possible addition of more third-party services, beyond those already available such as EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, and Fortnite Crew. The hope, of course, is that these additions would not lead to further price increases for subscribers.
For now, these plans remain under discussion, but they suggest that Microsoft sees Game Pass as a platform that can continue to grow and change over time.
