Microsoft cuts Game Pass Ultimate to $22.99 and delays Call of Duty day-one
Microsoft cut Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 to $22.99 per month and PC Game Pass from $16.49 to $13.99. The service will no longer include new Call of Duty titles on launch day, adding them roughly a year after release under gaming boss Asha Sharma’s strategic overhaul.
1. Price Reduction Details
Microsoft lowered Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $22.99 monthly from $29.99 and reduced PC Game Pass to $13.99 from $16.49. These cuts mark the first subscription price rollback after years of incremental increases aimed at driving margin growth.
2. Call of Duty Launch Timing
Future Call of Duty releases will no longer be available on Game Pass at launch, reversing a post-Activision Blizzard acquisition decision. New titles will now be added to the service approximately one year after their retail release.
3. Leadership and Strategic Shift
Asha Sharma, Microsoft’s new gaming division head, initiated the pricing and content changes following the February departures of Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond. Sharma cited affordability and subscriber value as core priorities in reshaping Game Pass offerings.
4. Competitive and Financial Impacts
The price cuts and delayed content inclusion aim to bolster subscriber growth against Sony and Nintendo pressure but may compress near-term revenue. Investors will watch subscriber metrics and average revenue per user for signals on long-term profitability.