Xbox Game Pass 2026 Report: Microsoft May Merge PC & Premium Tiers

Microsoft is preparing to shake up its Xbox Game Pass subscription service once again, according to tech journalist Tom Warren. Following a significant overhaul in late 2025, the company is actively discussing plans to further refine the service in 2026. The potential changes aim to streamline the experience across console, PC, and cloud by introducing a clearer set of cross-platform tiers, Essential, Premium, and Ultimate, while reducing the number of device-specific plans.

The most impactful change currently under consideration is the restructuring of the PC Game Pass tier.  Microsoft may merge the PC Game Pass with the Xbox Game Pass Premium tier. Currently, PC Game Pass exists as a separate, lower-cost option ($16.49 per month) that guarantees Day One access to Microsoft’s biggest games. If this merger goes through, PC players would be folded into the unified "Premium" structure. 

This shift could mean that standard subscribers lose guaranteed launch-day access to major first-party titles, such as Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, and Forza Horizon 6. To play these games immediately upon release, PC users might be forced to upgrade to the more expensive Ultimate tier.

Expanding Value Through Third-Party Service Bundles

Beyond tier restructuring, Microsoft is looking to deepen the value of the subscription by bundling more third-party services. This strategy mirrors the "cable TV" bundling model, designed to lock users into the Xbox ecosystem by offering a massive aggregate of content. While Xbox Game Pass Ultimate already includes benefits for Fortnite Crew, EA Play, and Ubisoft+ Classics, the company is reportedly in the early stages of talks to integrate other services directly into the Game Pass ecosystem. 

The goal is to simplify how players pay for access across all screens—from TVs to laptops and smartphones—without adding confusing separate subscriptions. Contextualizing these potential moves, the pricing of Xbox Game Pass has already seen a steep climb. In October 2025, the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate was increased to $29.99 per month, a move that drew significant criticism from the gaming community. 

Despite that backlash, the service has continued to grow, particularly on PC, and Microsoft remains committed to over 75 day-one releases per year. Fortunately, the new report notes that Microsoft is unlikely to raise prices again in the immediate future. Instead, the focus is on structural refinement and offering "more flexibility" to balance rising game development budgets with long-term sustainability.

However, subscribers should not panic just yet. Tom Warren also states that he doesn’t expect any actual changes to the service this calendar year. Not only did Xbox make significant changes in October, but Microsoft is still seeing growth in PC Game Pass subscriptions, as reported by Insider Gaming. 

As Microsoft assesses the market, players who rely on specific PC-exclusive benefits should keep a close watch on announcements later this year, as the new Essential, Premium, and Ultimate structure could eventually redefine the value proposition of the service.

Regarding the future of Xbox hardware, AMD recently stated that the next Xbox console could launch in 2027 (Insider Gaming). Reports indicate that the next Xbox in-home unit would likely be a PC-console hybrid, continuing the brand's expansion into diverse hardware following its 2025 entry into the handheld market with the ROG Ally Xbox devices.