A rumor about a major overhaul coming to Xbox Game Pass in 2027 spread rapidly, prompting Microsoft to issue an official statement. However, the company's response leaves room for speculation rather than outright denying the rumor.

What Does the Rumor Claim?

The claim originated from ResetEra user Slayven, known for accurately sharing unannounced Xbox news in the past. According to Slayven, Microsoft is planning to split Game Pass into two tiers in 2027: an ad-supported version for $13 per month and an ad-free version for $20 per month. This would introduce a cheaper option than the current Game Pass Ultimate by $3. The real shake-up, however, would be the removal of day-one releases for first-party titles between February and April 2027, and the separation of online multiplayer and cloud gaming services into individual add-ons.

Microsoft's Response

When asked by Forbes, a Microsoft spokesperson stated: "We regularly evaluate Game Pass offerings to see what works best for players in different markets. We have no changes or announcements to share today. There are no changes to previously announced titles that are set to launch day one with Game Pass Ultimate." This carefully worded statement does not directly deny the rumor, it simply confirms that there are no changes for games already announced for day-one release. According to GameRant, 31 titles are currently confirmed for day-one release in 2027, so this guarantee only covers those games and does not commit to any future releases.

Why the Rumor Seems Plausible

One reason the rumor is being taken seriously is the actions of current CEO Asha Sharma since taking office in February 2026. Sharma's first moves included lowering the Game Pass price and removing new Call of Duty titles from day-one availability, making Call of Duty the only first-party series without day-one access on the service. Sharma previously stated that Game Pass was too expensive and that she planned significant changes to the service. After the price drop, she also hinted at a long-term vision, saying "In the long run, we’ll evolve Game Pass into a more flexible system, and testing and learning will take time"—a statement that aligns closely with the rumored scenario.

Game Pass Is Already Facing Challenges

This discussion comes at a time when Microsoft has acknowledged that Game Pass hasn't grown as quickly as expected over the past year. Following last year’s price increase, millions of subscribers reportedly left the service, prompting Microsoft to try new ways to make Game Pass more appealing.

Why Day-One Releases Matter

One of the biggest draws of Game Pass is the ability to play first-party games on release day at no extra cost. This feature became a key pillar of the subscription model, especially after Microsoft acquired major publishers like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. Removing day-one releases would mark a major shift in strategy, moving away from the approach that encouraged players to subscribe instead of waiting for big titles to go on sale.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Microsoft confirmed ad-supported and ad-free Game Pass tiers?

No. In their statement, Microsoft neither confirmed nor denied the rumor; they simply said, "We have no changes to announce today."

Are day-one releases leaving Game Pass?

Microsoft guaranteed that there are no changes for previously announced titles, but did not make any commitments about future games.

According to the rumor, what will the new tier prices be?

The rumor claims the ad-supported tier will be $13 per month, while the ad-free tier will be $20 per month—making it $3 cheaper than the current Ultimate price.