The new head of Microsoft Gaming, Asha Sharma, who replaced Phil Spencer in February, is preparing major changes for the Xbox Game Pass service. According to recent reports, the company is considering introducing cheaper subscription tiers and is also discussing a potential partnership with Netflix.
After a noticeable price increase for Game Pass in recent months — in October 2025 the Ultimate tier rose by as much as 50% and now costs $30 per month — Microsoft is looking for ways to make the service more affordable for a wider audience. According to The Information, Sharma is exploring new pricing models.
One of the key ideas is to introduce a cheaper or even completely free subscription tier supported by ads. Players would get access to games at a reduced price in exchange for watching advertisements.
The report also states that Microsoft is in talks with Netflix about creating a joint subscription bundle. Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters confirmed that he and Sharma have already “exchanged ideas” about such cooperation, although no final decisions have been made yet.
Recall that the major Dota 2 update 7.41 removed aspects from the game.
