Xbox Game Pass could drop day-one games in claimed 2027 overhaul
Xbox Game Pass could lose new games on launch day under a major shake-up claimed for early 2027.
The claims come from a post by ResetEra user Slayven, as reported by Eurogamer. Game Pass is Microsoft's subscription service, where members pay a monthly fee for a library of games on console, PC and cloud. Day-one games, meaning big new releases available to subscribers the moment they launch, have long been its main draw.
Slayven claimed the reported changes would land between February and April 2027. The rumour describes three new tiers, one with adverts and two without.
Under the claim, an advert-supported tier would cost US$13 a month. An advert-free tier would cost US$20 a month or US$240 a year. A third tier would offer access to the existing library plus online multiplayer, the paid subscription needed to play most games online, for US$15.
Slayven also claimed day-one games would be removed from all tiers. Cloud streaming, which lets players run games over the internet without downloading them, would also be removed from all tiers, with an optional US$6 add-on for 25 hours of playtime. The rumour adds a US$6-a-month family plan option, and says online multiplayer alone would still require an US$11 subscription.
Nothing is confirmed. Microsoft told Forbes reporter Paul Tassi that it regularly tests different Game Pass offerings, has no changes to announce, has no finalised plans, and has no changes to previously announced games coming to Game Pass Ultimate on day one.
The rumour has travelled because of the source's history. Slayven revealed plans in 2025 to raise Game Pass prices and change tier offerings, some of which proved true. Leaker NateTheHate vouched for Slayven this time, saying the individual providing the information clearly has knowledge of some matters.
For fans, this means a wait for anything solid. Microsoft has already made real changes to the service this year. It announced on 21 April 2026 that Game Pass Ultimate would drop from US$29.99 to US$22.99 a month and PC Game Pass would drop from US$16.49 to US$13.99 a month, while removing Call of Duty as a day-one release. It announced on 3 September 2026 that, beginning in November, it is changing how cloud gaming is included with Game Pass, according to Xbox.
At present, Xbox says day-one games are only included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, and not with the Premium and Essential plans.
