Xbox Game Pass Features May Soon Be Pick-and-Choose
Xbox Game Pass features could soon work very differently. According to reports, Microsoft is planning to let subscribers pick and choose which Xbox Game Pass features they pay for, instead of forcing everyone into preset tiers. The change would give players more control over what their subscription includes and, potentially, what it costs.
The reported overhaul comes as Xbox continues to reshape its business under CEO Asha Sharma, who took over in February. The division has already seen layoffs, studio sales, and adjustments to its core products and services. A more flexible subscription would be one of the biggest changes yet to how Xbox sells Game Pass.
What Xbox Game Pass Features Include Today
Following a price hike in 2025, one of the first moves Xbox made after Sharma took control was a price cut to Game Pass Ultimate, its most expensive tier. Here is how the current plans break down:
| Plan | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Game Pass Ultimate | $23/month | Over 500 games, day-one releases, bundled Fortnite Crew, EA Play and Ubisoft+ Classics, online multiplayer, and up to 15 hours of game streaming |
| Xbox Game Pass Premium | $15/month | Over 200 games, online multiplayer, and up to 10 hours of game streaming |
| Xbox Game Pass Essential | $10/month | Over 50 games, online multiplayer, and up to five hours of game streaming |
| PC Game Pass | $14/month | Over 300 PC games, day-one releases, and a bundled EA Play subscription |
Xbox previously let customers pay for online multiplayer through an Xbox Live Gold subscription. That option was retired in 2023 when the benefit was folded into Xbox Game Pass Core, the tier now called Essential.
How a Build-Your-Own Plan Could Work
In April, reports indicated that Xbox eventually hoped to offer a more flexible version of Game Pass “where users can effectively decide what packages of content they want to see as part of their plan.” For example, subscribers could drop bundled add-ons like Fortnite Crew to lower the price of their plan.
The idea sounded appealing but seemed distant until Fortune profiled Sharma in October 2026. That report stated Xbox planned to let users pick the Xbox Game Pass features they wanted to include in their subscription:
Xbox is planning a major overhaul of Game Pass that would have players choose features à la carte, including add-ons for console-only games, cloud gaming, and multiplayer, with the system operating on a tiered structure, according to people familiar with the strategy.
In other words, the new Xbox Game Pass features would be sold as optional pieces rather than a fixed package. The exact mechanics remain unclear, but the direction is toward more choice.
Why Xbox Is Rethinking Its Subscription Model
Xbox is clearly open to giving customers more ways to pay for its services. The company has already started previewing a way for even non-Game Pass subscribers to pay to stream games. Extending that logic to the rest of the subscription would turn the service into a series of optional separate payments.
That approach would not necessarily make things simpler for Xbox owners. It would, however, give them more control over pricing, which matters more as the cost of games and consoles continues to rise.
A flexible plan could also make the service more appealing and affordable for newcomers and existing customers alike. Rather than paying for a bundle that includes features they never touch, subscribers could build a plan around what they actually use.
What Could Be Separated
Based on the reported plans, the optional pieces could include:
Console-only games
Cloud gaming access
Online multiplayer
Bundled subscriptions such as Fortnite Crew and EA Play
How these pieces would be priced individually has not been disclosed. The reported system would still operate on a tiered structure, so some bundling may remain.
What This Means for Subscribers
For now, the reported changes are still plans rather than confirmed details. What is clear is that Xbox is exploring a future where you no longer pay for a preset bundle but instead assemble the Xbox Game Pass features you actually use. Whether that model alone can change the company’s fortunes remains an open question.
If the overhaul moves forward, current and prospective subscribers should watch for announcements on pricing, tier structure, and which add-ons become individually selectable. For anyone who has hesitated over the cost of Ultimate, a build-your-own option could be the first real alternative.
