Microsoft is planning a substantial restructuring of Xbox Game Pass that would let subscribers pick and choose individual features rather than paying for bundled tiers, according to a new report from Fortune. The proposed changes represent the most significant overhaul of the service since its launch.
The revelation came from a profile piece on Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who reportedly wants to transform Game Pass from a fixed-price, all-you-can-eat subscription into a more modular system. Players could select add-ons for console-only games, cloud gaming, and multiplayer access, with the overall system still operating on a tiered structure.
Insiders familiar with the strategy told Fortune that the overhaul is targeted for a 2027 launch, though nothing has been officially announced by Microsoft.
Why Game Pass Needs Rethinking
The report paints a picture of a service that has struggled to meet its ambitions. Microsoft originally targeted 77 million Game Pass subscribers by the end of fiscal 2026. The service currently sits at roughly 30 million, well short of that goal.
Fortune’s profile also highlights an internal tension that has plagued the service since its inception. Game Pass helped Xbox build a subscription business, but it also cannibalised sales of higher-priced first-party titles, particularly during critical launch windows. Former employees described competing internal metrics between subscription revenue and store revenue that exacerbated the problem.
“Game Pass helped Xbox build a subscription business. But it also led to a cannibalization of sales for the company’s higher-priced first-party game titles.” — Fortune
The à la carte model could address both issues by lowering the entry price for casual subscribers while charging heavier users more for premium features. Sharma has previously expressed interest in creating a more affordable base tier to attract subscribers who might be put off by current pricing.
Cloud Gaming Already Moving Toward Paid Access
Microsoft has already begun unbundling certain Game Pass features. Starting in November, the company is introducing monthly cloud-gaming hour caps: 15 hours for Ultimate, 10 hours for Premium, and 5 hours for Essential. Subscribers who exceed their allocation can purchase additional cloud playtime through the Xbox Store.
Microsoft expects the change to affect just 4% of Game Pass subscribers, but it signals a clear willingness to meter access to cloud streaming and charge accordingly. The company has also indicated that players will be able to buy cloud playtime hours without any Game Pass subscription at all, streaming games they own on supported devices.
Coming in November: Cloud gaming hour caps — 5 hours (Essential), 10 hours (Premium), 15 hours (Ultimate). Extra hours purchasable separately.
The confirmed cloud-gaming changes are separate from the broader à la carte overhaul reported by Fortune, but they point in the same direction: Microsoft is testing how far it can unbundle features before the core value proposition weakens.
What Remains Unknown
The Fortune report is notably thin on specifics. It does not reveal how much individual add-ons would cost, whether existing subscriptions would be replaced or supplemented, or how the tiered structure would combine with modular features. There is also no confirmation that day-one first-party releases will remain part of the base offering.
Xbox has already been experimenting with this tension through Premium Edition Upgrades, which charge players an additional £25 for early access to games that arrive on Game Pass days later. The à la carte model could extend this approach further, potentially removing day-one releases from the standard tier entirely.
The next batch of major Xbox exclusives begins in February 2027 with Fable, which many industry observers expect to arrive alongside the restructured Game Pass offering.
For current subscribers, the practical advice is to wait. Nothing changes until Microsoft makes an official announcement, and the details of pricing and feature allocation will determine whether the restructured Game Pass represents better or worse value than today’s tiers.
