Link: Xbox Game Pass ‘has become too expensive,’ says Microsoft’s new gaming chief in leaked memo

Asha Sharma, the new Xbox chief, acknowledges that Xbox Game Pass has become too costly. In an internal memo, Sharma highlighted the need for a "better value equation" for the service.

Last year, the monthly fee for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate surged by 50 percent to $29.99. This price hike was justified by Microsoft as necessary due to enhancements across all tiers of the service, including adding Call of Duty.

Adding Call of Duty to the Game Pass lineup was previously debated within Microsoft. The inclusion, which occurred in the summer of 2024, was contentious due to concerns about the impact on traditional sales revenue.

Recent rumors suggest Microsoft might remove Call of Duty from Game Pass. Jez Corden of Windows Central speculated on a podcast that this removal could expose flaws in Microsoft's strategy.

Sharma is responsive to online discussions about potential changes to Game Pass pricing. She plans to discuss these issues further with Xbox employees soon.

While immediate price changes to Xbox Game Pass are not anticipated, it's clear that Microsoft is preparing to revise their pricing strategy in the near future. #

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