Overview
- After former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden called Xbox Game Pass a service with “unfavorable diagnostics and a grim prognosis,” Xbox chief Asha Sharma replied on LinkedIn that she would “love to chat sometime.”
- Sharma’s reply follows a leaked memo reported by The Verge in which she wrote that Game Pass has become too expensive for players and needs a more flexible model.
- Microsoft has not announced changes to Game Pass, and coverage describes internal reviews that may test new tiers, adjust when big games join, or explore bundles such as a possible tie‑up with Netflix.
- Industry voices warn that putting blockbuster games on Game Pass the day they launch makes it hard to turn a profit, with a gaming CFO saying first‑day AAA releases strain big franchises.
- The exchange comes after a 2025 Game Pass Ultimate price hike that drew strong pushback from subscribers, adding pressure on Xbox to show clearer value and future plans.