Microsoft Adjusts Xbox Game Pass Pricing, Removes New Call of Duty Titles at Launch

On April 21, 2026, Microsoft announced changes to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, lowering the monthly cost while removing access to new Call of Duty games at launch. The update reflects a strategic shift following the company’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard and feedback from subscribers about pricing concerns.

Price Reductions Across Game Pass Tiers

Starting today, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will decrease from $29.99 to $22.99 per month in the United States. In the UK, the price drops from £22.99 to £16.99 monthly. PC Game Pass will also spot a reduction, moving from $16.49 to $13.99 per month in the US and from £13.49 to £10.99 in the UK.

These adjustments reverse a price increase implemented in October 2025, when Microsoft raised the cost of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate by nearly 50%. The company stated that the revision responds to user feedback indicating the service had become too expensive.

New Call of Duty Games Excluded from Launch Access

Despite the price cuts, Microsoft confirmed that future Call of Duty titles will no longer be available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass at launch. Instead, new releases will be added to the service approximately one year after their initial release, typically during the following holiday season.

Existing Call of Duty games already in the library will remain accessible to subscribers. This includes older titles and previously released entries, which continue to be part of the rotating catalog.

The change comes after Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023. The first Call of Duty game to launch on Game Pass under the new ownership was Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in 2024. A Bloomberg report cited by Microsoft indicated that including the franchise in the subscription service resulted in an estimated $300 million in lost sales.

Other Benefits Remain Unchanged

Microsoft emphasized that all other aspects of Xbox Game Pass remain unaffected. Subscribers will continue to receive access to games from Microsoft-owned studios on launch day, including titles from Bethesda, id Software, and other internal teams. Cloud gaming access via Xbox Cloud Gaming remains included in Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential tiers.

The company framed the update as a response to diverse player preferences, stating that no single pricing model fits all users but that the changes aim to address widespread feedback. Microsoft added that it will continue to monitor subscriber input and adjust offerings accordingly.

Industry Context and Subscriber Impact

The revision highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing content value with subscription affordability in the gaming industry. By separating high-revenue franchises like Call of Duty from the day-one value proposition of Game Pass, Microsoft seeks to preserve sales revenue while maintaining a competitive subscription price.

For players, the change means lower monthly costs but delayed access to major new releases. Those interested in playing the latest Call of Duty titles upon release will demand to purchase them separately or wait for their eventual addition to the service.

Microsoft has not indicated whether similar release-window adjustments will apply to other franchises in the future, though it confirmed that non-Activision titles from its studios will continue to launch directly on Game Pass.

Key Takeaways

• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate drops from $29.99 to $22.99/month in the US; PC Game Pass from $16.49 to $13.99/month.
• New Call of Duty games will no longer be available at launch on Game Pass; they will arrive ~1 year post-release.
• Existing Call of Duty titles in the library remain accessible to subscribers.
• All other Game Pass benefits, including cloud gaming and day-one access to other Microsoft titles, are unchanged.
• The changes follow user feedback about pricing and internal assessments of revenue impact from including Call of Duty in the subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I still be able to play older Call of Duty games on Game Pass?

Yes. Microsoft confirmed that existing Call of Duty titles already in the Game Pass library will continue to be available.

When will new Call of Duty games appear on Game Pass?

According to Microsoft, new Call of Duty titles will be added to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass during the following holiday season, approximately one year after launch.

Does this affect other Microsoft-owned franchises like Halo or Starfield?

No. Games from Microsoft-owned studios outside of Activision Blizzard will continue to launch on Game Pass on their release date.

Is Xbox Cloud Gaming still included with Game Pass Ultimate?

Yes. Access to Xbox Cloud Gaming remains part of the Ultimate, Premium, and Essential tiers.

Why did Microsoft make this change?

The company cited subscriber feedback that Game Pass had become too expensive and internal data showing that including Call of Duty in the service impacted full-game sales revenue.