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Microsoft Reduces Xbox Game Pass Prices, Adjusts Call of Duty Release Timing

BusinessTechnologyGaming4/21/2026
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Microsoft has lowered subscription prices for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass in the US and UK. The company will also delay the day-one inclusion of new Call of Duty games in the service. These changes are effective immediately.

Facts First

  • Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price cut from $29.99 to $22.99 per month in the US and from £22.99 to £16.99 in the UK.
  • PC Game Pass price cut from $16.49 to $13.99 per month in the US and from £13.49 to £10.99 in the UK.
  • New Call of Duty games will not be included in Game Pass on their launch day.
  • Future Call of Duty titles will be added to Game Pass during the following holiday season, about a year after release.
  • Existing Call of Duty games in Game Pass are unaffected by the new release timing.

What Happened

Microsoft announced immediate price reductions for its Xbox Game Pass subscription services. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now costs $22.99 per month in the US, down from $29.99, and PC Game Pass is now $13.99 per month, down from $16.49. In the UK, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is now £16.99 per month and PC Game Pass is £10.99 per month. The company also stated that new Call of Duty games will no longer be included in either Game Pass service on their release day. Future Call of Duty titles will be added to Game Pass during the holiday season following their launch, approximately one year later. Call of Duty games already included in any Game Pass tier are unaffected. Microsoft published details of these changes on Xbox Wire.

Why this Matters to You

If you subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass, your monthly bill will be lower starting now. The change could make the service more affordable for you and may encourage you to keep your subscription. However, if you were looking forward to playing new Call of Duty titles immediately through Game Pass, you will now have to wait about a year or purchase the game separately. This could affect your gaming budget and planning for upcoming releases.

What's Next

The price changes are already in effect. The new policy for Call of Day game releases will apply to future titles. Microsoft's leadership... appears to be focusing on the next generation of Xbox hardware, known as Project Helix, which could shape the future platform for these subscription services.

Perspectives

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Microsoft maintains that recent changes are a direct response to diverse player feedback and asserts that the company will "continue to listen and learn" as they evolve their services.
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Asha Sharma acknowledges that the current Game Pass model "isn't the final one" and admits that, in the short term, the service "has become too expensive for players."
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Critics view previous adjustments to Microsoft Rewards as "controversial" and argue that such changes have "ultimately offering less value to subscribers."
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Analysts speculate that the recent shift in pricing strategy may be a direct result of new leadership under CEO Asha Sharma.