Microsoft has cut the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate by 23 percent, lowering the monthly cost from $29.99 to $22.99 effective immediately, while simultaneously removing new Call of Duty releases from day-one availability on the service.
The adjustment also affects PC Game Pass, which drops from $16.49 to $13.99 per month. Both changes follow a January memo from Xbox Gaming CEO Asha Sharma acknowledging that the subscription had become too expensive for players, a sentiment echoed after a 50 percent price increase the previous fall that drew widespread criticism.
Microsoft says the price reduction is made possible in part by shifting new Call of Duty titles out of the launch window for Game Pass. Instead of appearing on the service at release, future entries in the franchise will be added “during the following holiday season,” approximately one year after launch. Existing Call of Duty games already in the library will remain accessible across all tiers.
The company frames the dual move as responsive to user feedback, stating that its audience spans diverse geographies and play preferences, and that no single pricing model fits everyone. Sharma emphasized that Microsoft will continue to listen and adapt based on subscriber input.
Industry analysts note the reversal marks a significant shift from Microsoft’s earlier strategy of using high-profile day-one releases to drive Game Pass subscriptions. Internal debates from nearly two years ago had warned that integrating Activision’s blockbuster franchise could undermine standalone sales, concerns now validated by the decision to withdraw new launches from the service.
Despite the absence of day-one Call of Duty access, Microsoft argues subscribers still benefit financially. For example, purchasing this year’s expected Call of Duty title at $69.99 while maintaining a Game Pass Ultimate subscription at $22.99 per month results in lower net spending compared to the prior six months, when the service cost $29.99 monthly.
The timing coincides with Microsoft’s announcement of the second wave of April additions to Game Pass, though those titles were not detailed in the statements from either The Verge or IGN. No changes were made to other tiers of the service, including access to Xbox Cloud Gaming, which remains bundled with Game Pass Ultimate, PC, and Core plans.
Will existing Call of Duty games still be available on Game Pass after this change?
Yes, Microsoft confirmed that all Call of Duty titles already part of the Game Pass library will remain available across all tiers, including Ultimate and PC, with no removal of existing content.
How soon will new Call of Duty games appear on Game Pass after release?
New Call of Duty releases will be added to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass approximately one year after launch, during the following holiday season, rather than at day one.