Microsoft's newly appointed Xbox chief, Asha Sharma, has acknowledged in an internal memo that the company's popular Game Pass subscription service has become "too expensive" for players and requires immediate attention to improve its value proposition.
In the leaked communication obtained by The Verge, Sharma directly addresses growing concerns about the subscription model's affordability, stating that "Game Pass has become too expensive for players" and that Microsoft needs "a better value equation."
Sharma emphasized the service's importance to Xbox's gaming ecosystem while acknowledging its current limitations: "Game Pass is central to gaming value on Xbox. It's also clear that the current model isn't the final one."
The memo signals Microsoft's readiness to address pricing concerns that have emerged as the service has evolved, suggesting potential changes to the subscription structure in the near future. This internal admission comes as the gaming industry faces increasing scrutiny over subscription service costs and value retention for consumers.