Xbox Slashes Game Pass Prices Amid Day-One Call of Duty Exclusion

Xbox has announced immediate price reductions for its Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscriptions, but with a significant change to the service’s lineup.

Effective today, Game Pass Ultimate costs $23 per month, down from its previous price of $30. Similarly, PC Game Pass has been lowered to $14 per month, reduced from $16.50. Microsoft noted that regional pricing may vary.

Microsoft’s Gaming CEO Addresses Game Pass Affordability

In a leaked internal memo last week, new Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma highlighted concerns over Game Pass pricing, stating,

‘Game Pass has become too expensive for players, so we need a better value equation. Long term, we will evolve Game Pass into a more flexible system which will take time to test and learn around.’

Sharma reiterated this sentiment in a public post on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing the need for better accessibility:

‘Game Pass Ultimate has become too expensive for too many players. Starting today, we’re dropping the price from $29.99 to $22.99/month.’

Call of Duty Titles Excluded from Day-One Game Pass Access

One major tradeoff accompanies the price cuts: new Call of Duty games will no longer be available on Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass on their launch day. Instead, they will join these tiers approximately one year later, during the following holiday season.

This marks a shift from Microsoft’s previous policy, where first-party titles—including Call of Duty—were typically available on Game Pass at launch. Now, Call of Duty will be the only first-party Xbox game excluded from day-one access.

The decision reflects Microsoft’s strategy to maximize revenue from one of gaming’s most lucrative franchises. Call of Duty was a key factor in Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023. While PlayStation players have historically paid full price for annual Call of Duty releases, Xbox and PC players have benefited from early access via Game Pass.

Industry Reactions and Future Implications

Industry analysts suggest this move aligns with earlier rumors that Microsoft would separate Call of Duty from standard Game Pass tiers. Speculation indicates the company may introduce a higher-priced Game Pass tier or an add-on that includes day-one access to Call of Duty titles.

The Xbox team acknowledged the diversity of player preferences, stating,

‘Our players cover a wide breadth of geographies, preferences, and tastes, so while there isn’t a single model that’s best for everyone, this change responds to a lot of feedback we’ve gotten so far. We’ll continue to listen and learn.’

This is the second time in 15 months that Microsoft has raised Game Pass Ultimate prices, with the last increase in October 2025 pushing the cost to $30 per month—a 50% hike. The recent price cuts aim to restore value while adjusting the service’s offerings to balance affordability and profitability.