Xbox Game Pass price cut
- Microsoft cut Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $22.99 per month in a recent announcement. (x.com) - The change was posted by Xbox CEO Asha and circulated widely on social with over 44k likes. (x.com) - The shift affects subscribers' monthly cost and follows ongoing debate about day-one releases and custom subscription tests. ( )
Microsoft has cut Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $22.99 a month, down from $29.99, and the change took effect April 21. (news.xbox.com) The same update lowered PC Game Pass to $13.99 from $16.49. Microsoft said prices may vary by region. (news.xbox.com) The lower price comes with a tradeoff: future Call of Duty games will no longer arrive in Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass on launch day. Microsoft said those titles will be added in the following holiday season, about a year later. (news.xbox.com) Ultimate still includes online console multiplayer, cloud gaming, in-game benefits, and access to hundreds of console and PC games. Xbox’s plan-comparison page now labels day-one access with a note that excludes Call of Duty titles. (news.xbox.com) (xbox.com) The move reverses part of Xbox’s October 1, 2025 subscription overhaul, when Microsoft introduced Essential, Premium, and Ultimate plans and pitched Ultimate as the tier with “over 75 day one releases a year,” including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. (news.xbox.com) Asha Sharma, who replaced Phil Spencer as Microsoft’s gaming chief in February 2026, has framed the shift as part of a broader reset. CNBC reported that Microsoft made the cuts after Sharma promised to “recommit to our core Xbox fans and players.” (cnbc.com) (polygon.com) Reports earlier in April said Sharma told employees that Game Pass had “become too expensive for players” and that Microsoft needed “a better value equation.” Those reports also said the company was testing a more flexible subscription model. (theverge.com) (engadget.com) The cuts also land as Microsoft tries to steady its gaming business after weaker results. CNBC reported gaming made up 7% of Microsoft revenue in the latest quarter, while gaming revenue fell about 10% year over year and hardware sales dropped 32%. (cnbc.com) For subscribers, the immediate change is simple: the monthly bill is lower starting now, but the biggest annual shooter franchise is no longer part of the day-one promise. (news.xbox.com) (xbox.com)
