Microsoft responds to Game Pass leak about day-one releases and new prices
In brief
- Microsoft says no Game Pass changes are finalized after a leak claimed day-one releases could be cut and new tiers added.
- A leak suggests Game Pass could lose day-one releases next spring and be split into ad-supported and ad-free tiers.
- The leak cites prices of $12.99 per month for the ad-supported tier and $19.99 per month or $239.99 per year for the ad-free version.
What happened
IGN reported that Microsoft/Xbox has responded to an online leak about possible changes to Xbox Game Pass. According to the response, Xbox has not finalized any changes and has “nothing to announce today.” That does not confirm the rumors, but it also does not deny that Microsoft may be testing pricing and tier changes internally.
The rumors center on a possible restructuring of Game Pass. In the leaked information, Microsoft would remove day-one releases from the service, possibly as soon as next spring, and split subscriptions into two versions: one with ads and one without. The prices mentioned in the leak are $12.99 per month for the ad-supported version and $19.99 per month or $239.99 per year for the ad-free option.
The same leak cycle also mentions separate add-ons for cloud streaming and a family plan. Multiplayer, according to some reports, would no longer be included by default and would instead be offered as a separate paid add-on. Microsoft has not officially confirmed any of those details.
Timeline
September 15, 2026: IGN reports that Xbox has not finalized any Game Pass changes and has nothing to announce.
September 15, 2026: Coverage of the leak mentions possible new Game Pass tiers, including prices of $12.99 and $19.99.
September 15, 2026: The rumors also mention separate add-ons for cloud streaming and family plans.
Next spring (unconfirmed): according to the leak, a possible Game Pass structure change could take effect.
Background
The discussion follows a ResetEra leak picked up by multiple sites, including IGN, Neowin, and Pure Xbox. In the wider context, the plan is described as a possible 2027 overhaul of Game Pass, with day-one releases removed and features such as cloud streaming and online multiplayer split off.
A tweet from Paul Tassi, based on leak information from Slayven, specifically mentions two Game Pass subscriptions: an ad-supported version for $12.99 per month and an ad-free version for $19.99 per month or $239.99 per year. That remains unofficial information and has not been confirmed by Microsoft.
Related GAME-scanner articles
- Microsoft responds to Game Pass rumor about 2027 with new tiers and cloud add-on
- Xbox Game Pass rumor about 2027: Xbox responds without confirmation
Sources
- IGN: Microsoft responds to leak about possible Game Pass changes
- Pure Xbox: Xbox responds to rumor about Game Pass in 2027
- Neowin: report on alleged Game Pass tier overhaul
- Tweet by @PaulTassi about the leaked subscription prices