Microsoft responds to Game Pass leak: no finalized changes, but rumors point to $12.99 and $19.99 tiers
Microsoft says no Game Pass changes have been announced or finalized, after a leak claimed new tiers and possible day-one release cuts.
- A leak points to possible new Game Pass tiers, including an ad-supported option at $12.99 per month and an ad-free option at $19.99 per month or $239.99 per year.
- The same rumor round also mentions a possible removal of day-one releases, a separate cloud add-on, and a family plan.
What happened
IGN reported that Microsoft/Xbox has responded to an online leak about possible changes to Xbox Game Pass. In its response, a Microsoft spokesperson said the company regularly tests different Game Pass offerings in different markets, but that nothing has been announced today and no plans have been finalized.
The rumors themselves come from a ResetEra post that was picked up by several outlets, including IGN, Eurogamer, GameSpot, GameRant, and Pure Xbox. The information suggests a restructuring of Game Pass in which day-one releases could be removed, with a timeframe in some reports placed between February and April 2027.
The leaked claims also mention new subscription options: an ad-supported tier at $12.99 per month and an ad-free tier at $19.99 per month or $239.99 per year. Other reported additions include a cloud gaming add-on priced at $5.99 per month with 25 hours of playtime, plus a family plan add-on for $5.99 per month, though none of those details have been confirmed by Microsoft.
Timeline
15 September 2026: IGN reports that Microsoft has responded to a leak about possible Game Pass changes and says nothing has been announced.
15 September 2026: Coverage of the ResetEra leak mentions possible new Game Pass tiers priced at $12.99 and $19.99.
15 September 2026: Multiple outlets report that the rumors also point to cloud gaming as a separate add-on and a standalone family plan.
February-April 2027: according to the leak, a possible change to day-one releases could take effect in this window.
Background
The core of the discussion is a possible Game Pass overhaul that the rumors tie to splitting off features such as cloud gaming and online multiplayer. The source material also notes that the leaker, Slayven, wanted the claims treated with caution.
A tweet from Paul Tassi includes a quoted Microsoft statement saying the company tests different Game Pass offerings and looks at what works best in different markets. That same statement emphasizes that no changes have been announced and no plans have been finalized.
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- Microsoft lists 8 Xbox Game Pass removals for 30 September 2026
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Sources
- IGN: Microsoft responds to leak about possible Game Pass changes
- Eurogamer: Xbox Game Pass big changes 2027 rumor, Microsoft responds
- GameSpot: Microsoft reacts to Xbox Game Pass rumor that could change the service in a big way
- GameRant: Xbox Game Pass day-one first-party games removal
- Pure Xbox: Xbox responds to 2027 Game Pass rumor
- Tweet by @PaulTassi about the leaked subscription prices