A new tier for Xbox Game Pass may be on the way, as details surrounding a “Starter Edition” have surfaced online ahead of any official announcement.
First reported by The Verge, Microsoft is preparing for a more affordable, entry-level version of the Game Pass. The new plan appears to be bundled with Discord Nitro, offering a smaller game library and limited cloud gaming features. The leak originated from a promotional material in Discord, marketing their Nitro subscription.
According to the leaked promotional material, Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition will include access to over 50 games. While this is significantly smaller than the full Game Pass catalog, it appears to focus on a curated selection of titles, including recognizable games like Stardew Valley and Fallout 4.
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What Xbox Game Pass “Starter Edition” Offers
What’s interesting is that this new bundle plan is not limited to first-party games. There are a bunch of third-party titles in it, too. On top of that, it also features cloud gaming, but with restrictions. The Starter Edition is said to offer around 10 hours of cloud streaming per month, a major step down from the unlimited access available in higher tiers like Game Pass Ultimate.
Of course, Discord Nitro is also part of the plan, since it’s a bundle. The subscription includes a number of neat social features, such as higher streaming quality, custom emojis, animated profile pictures, and other community-focused perks. We already know Microsoft is experimenting with flexible options for Game Pass, so a bundle with Discord, which is the most popular communication app for gamers, makes sense.
The Starter Edition could serve as a lower-cost entry point for casual users who don’t need full access to Game Pass’s extensive library. Of course, we will have to wait to see which games this “Standard Edition” includes to decide whether it’s worth getting.
Microsoft has yet to officially confirm the Starter Edition, and details may change before any formal reveal. Still, the leak offers a clear look at how Xbox is evolving its subscription strategy.
If accurate, this new tier would mark another step toward a more segmented Game Pass ecosystem, giving players more choice in how they access games and services.
Published: Apr 24, 2026 12:30 pm