Microsoft has announced significant changes to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, reducing prices while removing day-one access to new Call of Duty titles. The adjustments approach after months of subscriber feedback and internal review, marking a strategic shift in how the tech giant positions its gaming subscription offering in an increasingly competitive market.
According to verified reports from multiple authoritative sources, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will drop from $29.99 to $22.99 per month in the United States, while the UK price falls from £22.99 to £16.99 monthly. PC Game Pass will also observe a reduction, decreasing from $16.49 to $13.99 in the US and from £13.49 to £10.99 in the UK. These price cuts represent the first major downward adjustment to the service since its launch, reversing a previous 50% increase implemented just six months earlier.
The changes were confirmed by Asha Sharma, Microsoft Gaming boss, who announced the revisions via social media and internal communications. In a memo to Xbox staff dated April 13, 2026, Sharma stated that the service had become “too expensive” and required recalibration to maintain long-term sustainability. The decision follows a Bloomberg report citing a former Xbox employee who estimated that including Call of Duty in Game Pass resulted in approximately $300 million in lost sales for Microsoft during 2024.
Despite the price reduction, subscribers will no longer receive immediate access to new Call of Duty releases upon launch. Starting with future titles, new entries in the franchise will retail at full price—typically $70/£70 or $80/£80 depending on region—and will only become available on Game Pass approximately one year after their initial release. However, older Call of Duty games will remain accessible through the service, and other titles from Microsoft-owned studios will continue to launch day-one on Game Pass as before.
The Call of Duty experience on Xbox Cloud Gaming currently supports Black Ops 6, Black Ops 7, and Warzone™, according to official Xbox.com documentation. Access to these titles via Game Pass remains dependent on the user’s subscription tier and each game’s availability within the rotating catalog. Players attempting to access Warzone™, Black Ops 6, or Black Ops 7 may still be required to link a mobile phone number to their Activision account, a requirement noted in the game’s official descriptions.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023 for $68.7 billion brought the Call of Duty franchise under its ownership, making the 2024 release of Black Ops 6 the first major title from the series to appear on Game Pass at launch. That inclusion was widely seen as a flagship benefit of the subscription service, helping drive subscriber growth during a period of intense competition with Sony’s PlayStation Plus and other gaming platforms.
Industry analysts suggest the removal of day-one Call of Duty access signals a broader reevaluation of Microsoft’s gaming strategy. While the company continues to emphasize value through its Game Pass library—which includes titles from Bethesda, Obsidian, and other internal studios—the shift may reflect pressure to improve profitability per user. The price reduction could help retain cost-sensitive subscribers, while the delayed availability of Call of Duty titles may encourage some users to purchase new releases outright, thereby recovering lost revenue.
For consumers, the changes mean a lower monthly cost for access to hundreds of games, but potentially higher upfront expenses if they wish to play the latest Call of Duty titles immediately. Microsoft has clarified that all existing Game Pass benefits—including cloud streaming, EA Play integration, and discounts on game purchases—will remain intact. The company also noted that backward compatibility and cross-platform play features for supported titles will not be affected by the subscription adjustments.
As of now, Microsoft has not announced any further changes to Game Pass pricing or content availability beyond the adjustments effective immediately. The next major update to the service is expected during the company’s annual summer showcase, traditionally held in June, where new game additions and feature enhancements are typically revealed. Until then, subscribers are advised to check their account settings for updated billing information and review the rotating Game Pass catalog for current title availability.
For the latest official updates on Xbox Game Pass, including pricing, supported regions, and title rotations, users should refer to the official Xbox Game Pass website. Those seeking details on specific Call of Duty titles, including system requirements and purchase options, can consult Activision’s official Call of Duty portal.
What are your thoughts on Microsoft’s decision to lower Game Pass prices while removing day-one Call of Duty access? Share your perspective in the comments below, and consider sharing this article with fellow gamers who may be affected by these changes.