Xbox slashes Game Pass price

Microsoft cut the monthly price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in the U.S. to $22.99 on April 21, down from $29.99. (news.xbox.com) The same update lowered PC Game Pass to $13.99 from $16.49, effective immediately, and Xbox said prices can vary by region. (news.xbox.com) Xbox also said future Call of Duty games will no longer arrive on Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass at launch. New entries will be added during the following holiday season, about a year later, while older Call of Duty titles already in the library will stay available. (news.xbox.com) Game Pass is Microsoft’s subscription service for Xbox console and PC games, and the company’s 2024 annual report said the library included more than 400 first- and third-party titles. Ultimate also bundles online console multiplayer and cloud gaming. (microsoft.com) (news.xbox.com) The change lands after Microsoft closed its Activision Blizzard acquisition on Oct. 13, 2023, bringing Call of Duty under the Xbox business. That deal was valued at about $69 billion in Microsoft’s filing and public reporting. (blogs.microsoft.com) (cnbc.com) Xbox said the new pricing and release timing reflect player feedback, writing that “there isn’t a single model that’s best for everyone.” CNBC reported the price cut came after a broader push by Xbox leadership to reset parts of the business. (news.xbox.com) (cnbc.com) The tradeoff is straightforward: subscribers now pay less each month, but one of Xbox’s biggest franchises will no longer be part of the service on day one. That shifts Call of Duty closer to a delayed-catalog model than the “play it at launch” pitch Microsoft has used for many first-party releases. (news.xbox.com) Microsoft’s own post drew heavy attention online within two days of publication, with tens of thousands of likes and thousands of reposts on X. The reaction showed how closely players are watching the balance between subscription prices and what arrives on launch day. (x.com)