Microsoft seemingly readying an Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition

Xbox Game Pass already has multiple versions. Microsoft offers Ultimate, Premium, Essential, and PC Game Pass as options when users go to subscribe, with them bringing different tiers of games and capabilities. Now, a fresh option seems to be incoming, one dubbed Starter Edition. However, this may not be a standalone offering like the other Game Pass editions.

The DiscordPreviews X account that specializes in giving looks at upcoming features for the gaming-focused communications platform Discord has now revealed that a partnership may be happening between the two companies. The account posted a leaked banner that clearly shows Game Pass being included as a new perk for Discord Nitro, the platform's own subscription service for gaining extra chat and streaming perks.

According to the leaked banner, on top of Discord Nitro benefits, which costs $10, the Xbox Game Pass (Started Edition) addition will bring along these benefits:

• 50+ games like Stardew Valley & Fallout 4
• 10 hours of cloud gaming each month
• Earn Xbox Rewards just by playing
• Cloud gaming for select games from your Xbox library

No information about the full list of available games or what cloud titles are supported for streaming from the library has been leaked just yet. If the report is accurate, and with banners already appearing internally, an official announcement may not be far off.

This isn't an unexpected development, however. The new Xbox boss Asha Sharma posted on social media recently that the company is teaming up with Discord to "make Game Pass more flexible for our players." Like other recent moves from Microsoft, these changes are hitting the gaming wing at a quick pace. Game Pass itself received a large price cut earlier this month, while a complete focus and brand change was announced for Microsoft Gaming just yesterday.

As always, take leaks with a grain of salt until something official materializes out of either Microsoft or Discord.