Microsoft Cuts Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Price to $22.99 Per Month, No New Call of Duty Games
Microsoft has slashed the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 to $22.99 per month, and dropped PC Game Pass from $16.49 to $13.99 — a significant reduction aimed at reigniting subscriber growth for its flagship gaming subscription. The catch: neither tier will include new Call of Duty titles going forward, a notable exclusion given that Call of Duty has historically been Game Pass's biggest draw.
The New Game Pass Pricing Structure
The price cuts take effect immediately for new subscribers and will roll out to existing subscribers at their next billing cycle. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes console, PC, and cloud gaming access along with Xbox Live Gold, drops by $7 per month — roughly a 23% reduction. PC Game Pass, covering Windows PC titles only, falls by about $2.50 per month. Microsoft has positioned the cuts as part of a broader effort to make Game Pass more accessible and grow the subscriber base ahead of an anticipated hardware refresh later in 2026.
The timing is notable: Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has faced internal and external pressure following sluggish subscriber growth in 2025. An internal memo surfaced last month in which Spencer acknowledged that Game Pass had become "too expensive for players," signaling that a price correction was being considered. The cuts announced today validate that concern.
The Call of Duty Exclusion Explained
The most consequential detail is what's missing: new Call of Duty games will not be included in either Game Pass tier going forward. Microsoft had previously included new Call of Duty titles in Game Pass on Day 1 as a major selling point following its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023. Removing that benefit — even as prices fall — is a significant reversal.
Microsoft has not given a detailed explanation for the Call of Duty exclusion, but analysts point to the economics: including a game that regularly sells 20+ million copies at $70 per unit in an $18-23 subscription tier is a difficult value equation to sustain long-term. The company may be hedging against declining Game Pass revenue per subscriber by ring-fencing its most commercially valuable franchise.
What This Means for Gamers and Competitors
For existing subscribers who joined specifically for Call of Duty, the price cut may not compensate for losing Day 1 access to the franchise. However, for the broader gaming audience interested in Microsoft's extensive catalog — Bethesda titles, Forza, Minecraft, Sea of Thieves, and hundreds of third-party games — the lower price point makes Game Pass a more attractive proposition against PlayStation Plus and Nintendo Switch Online.
Sony, which has faced its own Game Pass competitor pressure, will be watching closely. PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium have not matched Microsoft's Day 1 first-party game inclusions, and the price cuts reinforce that Microsoft is committed to the subscription model even if it requires recalibrating the value proposition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price?
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now costs $22.99 per month, down from $29.99. PC Game Pass dropped to $13.99 per month from $16.49.
Does Xbox Game Pass include Call of Duty after the price cut?
No. New Call of Duty games will not be included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass going forward, despite the price reduction. This represents a reversal from Microsoft's previous Day 1 Call of Duty inclusion policy.
When do the new Game Pass prices take effect?
The new prices are effective immediately for new subscribers. Existing subscribers will see the reduced price applied at their next billing cycle.
The Bottom Line
Microsoft's Game Pass price cuts are a pragmatic response to subscriber growth challenges and an acknowledgment that the previous pricing was too high. But removing Call of Duty from the subscription is a significant tradeoff that will disappoint a core segment of the subscriber base. Whether the lower price wins enough new subscribers to offset the reduced value proposition for existing ones will determine whether this strategy pays off in 2026.