Xbox Responds to Rumor of Major Game Pass Overhaul in 2027

An unconfirmed rumor suggests Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass subscription service could undergo a significant restructuring in 2027, potentially removing day-one releases of first-party games and introducing new pricing tiers. The rumor, which originated from a post on the ResetEra forum by a moderator known as Slayven, claims the changes would split Game Pass into an ad-supported tier at $12.99 per month and an ad-free tier at $19.99 per month. It also alleges that online multiplayer would become a separate $10.99 subscription, cloud gaming would be a $5.99 add-on for 25 hours of playtime, and a family plan would cost an additional $5.99. The most significant claim is the removal of day-one access to new Microsoft-published games, a core feature of the current Game Pass Ultimate tier. The rumor indicates these changes could be implemented between February and April 2027. In response to the speculation, an Xbox spokesperson provided a statement to address the claims. "We regularly test different Game Pass offerings and look at what works best for players in different markets," the spokesperson said. "We don't have any changes to announce today or plans that have been finalized.