Is the Xbox Game Pass PC subscription going away?

It has been suggested that a significant structural change is underway for Microsoft’s popular subscription service, Xbox Game Pass. According to emerging rumors, Microsoft is preparing to abandon the current PC Game Pass standalone subscription. These changes and the new subscription strategy are expected to take effect in 2026.

Shocking Claim About Xbox Game Pass

According to leaked information, PC Game Pass will no longer be sold as a separate subscription. PC users will only be able to access the Game Pass library through the more comprehensive Ultimate subscription package.

No changes are expected to the content of the current Game Pass Core and Standard packages, but their names will reportedly be updated to Game Pass Essential and Game Pass Premium, respectively. This naming strategy is similar to Sony’s marketing model for PlayStation Plus.

The system’s most notable innovation is the ad-supported subscription model, expected to arrive in 2026. This new plan is reportedly free and will display mandatory ads to users at regular intervals. With this move, Microsoft aims to make Game Pass accessible to a wider user base.

These claims haven’t been officially confirmed yet. However, it appears the company intends to maintain the Game Pass model as a long-term strategy. Chris Charla, head of the ID@Xbox program, recently confirmed that Game Pass will receive its largest investment to date in 2025. It remains to be seen how users will react to these potential changes.