Microsoft Explores First-Party Xbox Game Pass Tier

Microsoft is exploring a new subscription tier for its Xbox Game Pass service, one that would provide access exclusively to first-party games developed by Xbox Game Studios, according to data uncovered in the company's backend systems.

The potential addition, codenamed Triton, was spotted by dataminer redphx, who regularly analyzes updates to Xbox's cloud streaming and Game Pass infrastructure. The tier appears designed as a more affordable option, limiting its library to titles from Microsoft's in-house studios rather than the broader selection that includes third-party games. Specific games referenced in the data include DOOM Eternal, Dishonored 2, Fable Anniversary, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, Gears 5, Halo 5: Guardians, Halo Wars 2, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, Ori and the Blind Forest, State of Decay 2, and The Elder Scrolls Online. Other mentions point to classics like DOOM 64, Psychonauts, and Retro Classics, though the full catalog remains unclear and may focus on established releases rather than day-one launches of new titles. Notably absent from the list are more recent first-party hits such as Starfield, Forza Horizon 5, and Sea of Thieves, suggesting Triton could...