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Microsoft Lowers Xbox Game Pass Prices as Future Call of Duty Skips Day One

The change marks an early recalibration under new Xbox chief Asha Sharma following customer pushback.

Overview

  • Microsoft cut Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $22.99 a month and PC Game Pass to $13.99 on Tuesday, with the lower prices active now.
  • Starting this year, new Call of Duty games will join Game Pass about a year after release, and existing Call of Duty titles stay in the library.
  • Xbox said Ultimate’s benefits, including day-one access to other first-party releases and online multiplayer, continue, and Premium and Essential prices are unchanged.
  • New Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma said Ultimate had become too expensive for many players and cast the change as a response to feedback.
  • Industry analysts said Call of Duty’s day-one stint on Game Pass failed to boost subscriptions or console sales, and the price cut should help value seekers even as launch-day CoD requires a separate purchase.