A new rumor suggests Microsoft is preparing to overhaul Xbox Game Pass with an 'a la carte' rental model. Instead of the current all-you-can-play subscription, users would pay a reduced base fee for a rotating library and then rent specific titles for a few days—similar to Netflix but for games.
The shift comes as day-one releases for major titles have been removed from the standard plan, and the service's value has declined. Industry analysts point to Microsoft's $72 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard as the root cause: the company now must recoup that investment, leading to higher prices and tiered access.
Critics argue the proposed $27 per month Ultimate tier already feels like a poor deal. The 'a la carte' model could fragment the user base and make Game Pass less attractive. However, Microsoft has not confirmed the plan, and details remain speculative.
As the Xbox community debates the change, one thing is clear: the golden age of all-you-can-play game subscriptions may be coming to an end.