Microsoft Lowers Xbox Game Pass Prices Amid Call of Duty Delay and New Pricing Strategy in 2026

Microsoft has announced a significant reduction in the price of its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscriptions, effective immediately, while simultaneously removing new “Call of Duty” titles from day-one access on the service.

The flagship Game Pass Ultimate service, which provides access to games on Xbox consoles, PCs, and mobile devices via cloud streaming, will now cost $22.99 per month, down from $29.99. This represents a 23% price reduction. The more limited PC Game Pass subscription will decrease from $16.49 to $13.99 per month, a 15% reduction.

The price adjustments come after a period of significant backlash from subscribers following previous price increases. Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma stated directly that “Game Pass Ultimate has become too expensive for too many players,” confirming the change was driven by customer feedback and internal assessments of the service’s value proposition.

As part of the same announcement, Microsoft confirmed that future releases in the “Call of Duty” franchise will no longer be available on Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass at launch. Instead, new titles 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 present in the Game Pass library will remain accessible to subscribers.

The decision reflects a strategic shift under Sharma’s leadership, who assumed the role of head of Xbox in February 2026 following the departure of longtime executive Phil Spencer. Sharma has emphasized a renewed focus on core Xbox players and acknowledged that the service’s pricing had drifted from what users considered fair value.

While the price cuts restore some of the affordability that had been eroded by prior increases, the exclusion of day-one “Call of Duty” access represents a notable trade-off for subscribers. The change means players wishing to access the latest entries in the franchise upon release will need to purchase them separately or wait for their eventual inclusion in the service catalog.

Other tiers of the Xbox Game Pass service, including the Core and Standard plans, are not affected by this pricing adjustment and will retain their current monthly rates. Microsoft has indicated that the revisions are intended to improve the overall appeal and sustainability of the Game Pass offering amid evolving player expectations and market conditions.