Xbox Cuts Game Pass Price, Will No Longer Include New ‘Call of Duty’

April 22, 2026 - 01:45

In a surprising strategic pivot, Microsoft has announced a price reduction for its flagship Xbox Game Pass subscription service. This move comes less than a year after the company implemented a significant price increase across its subscription tiers.

The revised pricing sees the standard Xbox Game Pass tier drop from $10.99 per month to $9.99. The premium Game Pass Ultimate, which includes cloud gaming and access to the library on PC, is also reduced from $16.99 to $14.99 monthly. This rollback is positioned as a direct response to player feedback, aiming to improve value for the community.

However, this increased affordability coincides with a major change in the service's content strategy. In a closely watched decision, Microsoft confirmed that new flagship titles from its recently acquired Activision Blizzard library, specifically the annual Call of Duty releases, will not be included in Game Pass upon their launch. The upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be available on the service from day one, but this is framed as an exception. Future titles in the blockbuster franchise are expected to follow the traditional retail model, a significant departure from expectations that all first-party Microsoft games would launch directly into Game Pass.

This dual announcement of a lower price point paired with a reduction in top-tier launch content marks a notable evolution for the subscription model. It suggests Xbox is refining its approach, balancing accessibility with the immense financial weight of its newest gaming franchises. The long-term impact on subscriber growth and satisfaction remains to be seen as the platform adjusts its value proposition.