Xbox CEO Labels Game Pass ‘Unaffordable’ in Leaked Memo
Asha Sharma has led Xbox for only a few months. Filmogaz.com reports she sent an internal memo on Game Pass pricing.
Memo highlights
Sharma told staff the subscription is central to Xbox’s gaming value. She said the present model will evolve over time.
The leaked memo reportedly calls Game Pass too costly for many players. In it, the Xbox CEO labeled Game Pass ‘unaffordable’ in the leaked memo and urged changes.
Short-term and long-term plans
Sharma pushed for a better value equation in the near term. She also proposed testing a more flexible system over the long term.
Those experiments will reportedly take time to design and learn from. The aim is to find options that work for players and the business.
Recent price moves
Microsoft raised Game Pass prices twice within 15 months. Those increases left some subscribers reconsidering their memberships.
Sources cited in the memo suggested adding big franchises may have influenced pricing decisions. Including such titles can affect Microsoft’s revenue calculus.
New content on the service
The April update expands the Game Pass catalog. Indies such as Hades 2 and Double Fine’s Kiln are joining the service.
AAA fare is arriving too, including the remake of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Those additions help explain some strategic decisions.
Possible implications
It is unclear whether this internal admission signals a major turnaround. Changes could range from price adjustments to tier restructuring.
More complicated tiers might reduce uptake. Still, acknowledging the issue internally is a noteworthy shift for the division.
