Microsoft's New Xbox Chief Admits Game Pass Pricing Issues in Internal Memo

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:37:00 +0200

Microsoft’s newly appointed Xbox chief, Asha Sharma, has acknowledged in a leaked internal memo that Xbox Game Pass has become too expensive for many players. The memo, obtained by The Verge, states that while Game Pass remains central to the value proposition on Xbox, the current model is not sustainable long-term. Sharma emphasized the need for a better value equation in the short term and plans to evolve the service into a more flexible system over time, which will require testing and learning. This comes after Microsoft raised the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $29.99 per month last year—a 50% increase—citing added benefits across its tiers. However, the hike, combined with the inclusion of major titles like Call of Duty starting in summer 2024, appears to have strained subscriber satisfaction. Internal debates had previously questioned whether adding new Call of Duty releases to the service would hurt traditional sales revenue. Recent online rumors suggest Microsoft may consi