Xbox Game Pass gets cheaper but drops day-one Call of Duty
Microsoft is cutting Xbox Game Pass prices, but new Call of Duty games will no longer arrive on day one. Subscribers will have to wait until the following holiday season.
Cheaper Game Pass, slower Call of Duty
Microsoft is cutting the monthly price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $22.99 from $29.99, while PC Game Pass drops to $13.99 from $16.49.
The catch: starting this year, new Call of Duty games will no longer hit Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass on day one.
New tradeoff for subscribers
Microsoft said future Call of Duty releases will arrive during the following holiday season, roughly a year after launch. Existing Call of Duty games already in the library will stay available.
The company framed the shift as a response to player feedback, saying there is no single subscription model that works for everyone. The pricing update was announced by Xbox on April 21. More plan details are available here.
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.
— Asha (@asha_shar) April 21, 2026
Future Call of Duty titles will no longer join Game Pass Ultimate on day one. They will join this tier the following holiday after launch (about…
What still stays included
Game Pass Ultimate still includes:
- Hundreds of games across Xbox console and PC
- Online console multiplayer
- In-game benefits
- Other day one releases
- Current Call of Duty titles already in the catalog
Big picture for Xbox
This is a notable reset for Xbox's subscription. Microsoft is lowering the cost of its top tiers, but it is also pulling one of the biggest promised hooks in gaming: day-one access to new Call of Duty. A move that will be welcomed by most, but also a disappointment after the Activision acquisition that seems to add less and less value for Xbox gamers.
