I’m flagging a potentially seismic change to Game Pass based on a new report — but take this with a pinch of salt. Per Eurogamer, a fresh leak from ResetEra user Slayven claims Microsoft is planning a major reshuffle of its subscription tiers that would, if true, remove two of the service’s biggest selling points: day-one releases and built-in cloud streaming.
What Was Reported
According to Eurogamer, the leak outlines a multi-part overhaul that would replace current tiers with three new options. Key elements allegedly include:
- Day-One Games Removed From All Tiers — no more launch-day additions across the board, per the leak.
- Cloud Streaming Removed From All Tiers — streaming would no longer be part of standard subscriptions, with an optional add-on offering 25 hours of playtime for $6.
- New tier pricing reportedly described in the leak:
- An ad-supported tier at $13 monthly.
- An ad-free tier at $20 monthly (or $240 annually).
- A third tier at $15 that grants access to the existing Game Pass library and allegedly includes online multiplayer access.
- A family plan option is said to be available for an extra $6 per month, while online multiplayer “still requires a subscription of $11” according to the same leak.
- Eurogamer reports the change is “reportedly due to take place between February and April 2027.”
The Source & Credibility
The primary name tied to the leak is ResetEra user Slayven. Eurogamer notes Slayven previously shared predictions in 2025 about Microsoft raising Game Pass prices and changing tiers, and some of those earlier claims turned out to be correct — a point the report uses to bolster credibility.
That said, there are red flags and open questions. Microsoft reportedly told Forbes reporter Paul Tassi that “we regularly test different Game Pass offerings and look at what works best for players in different markets. We don't have any changes to announce today or plans that have been finalised. There are no changes to previously announced games coming to Game Pass Ultimate on day one.” Per Eurogamer, that is Microsoft’s current position.
Noted leaker NateTheHate is quoted in the report vouching for the source to some extent: “The individual giving them information clearly has knowledge of some matters. Whether the intended timeline stays true or slides about, we'll learn in due time.”
For balance, Eurogamer points out previous claims by Slayven — specifically that PC Game Pass would go away — did not come to pass in 2025, which is a reminder to take fresh rumours cautiously.
What It Could Mean
If any of this is accurate, the practical impact on players and the industry could be significant. Removing day-one games from every tier would change how Microsoft positions exclusives and multiplatform launches, while taking cloud streaming out of base subscriptions would alter the value proposition for users who rely on streaming to access Game Pass on non-Xbox hardware.
The proposed $6 add-on for 25 hours of cloud play suggests Microsoft might be trying to monetise streaming differently, rather than include it as a standard benefit. That ties into Eurogamer’s note that Microsoft recently “severely limit[ed] Xbox cloud streaming across all three existing Game Pass tiers,” and that those new time caps were reportedly linked to the company’s break-even calculations.
There are lots of open technical and product questions too: does the $15 tier truly include online multiplayer, or is the $11 “online multiplayer subscription” a separate requirement? How would a family plan interact with the new tier structure? Eurogamer reports these specifics remain unclear.
Why This Matters
Game Pass has been one of Microsoft’s flagship consumer offerings, and any major shift in what subscribers get — particularly losing day-one releases or built-in cloud streaming — would reshape the service’s appeal. Per Eurogamer, Microsoft told a Forbes reporter it has nothing final to announce, and said it “regularly test[s] different Game Pass offerings.”
Microsoft’s new CEO Asha Sharma is mentioned in the report as having signalled a desire to “evolve Game Pass into a more flexible system which will take time to test and learn around,” per comments she made in April. Whether that evolution looks like the changes Slayven describes remains to be seen — if true, the February–April 2027 window Eurogamer reports would be when we might expect movement.
Take this with a pinch of salt, but if you want to track this line of reporting, we’ve covered related rumours before — including our piece on Xbox Could Axe Day-One Game Pass Launches and the earlier Big Xbox Game Pass Restructure Allegedly Planned For 2027.
