Microsoft has reduced the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 to $22.99 per month. PC Game Pass drops from $16.49 to $13.99. This adjustment follows a 50% price increase implemented approximately six months ago that evidently proved unsustainable for a sufficient number of subscribers.

New Xbox Gaming CEO Asha Sharma stated directly that Game Pass Ultimate had become too expensive for too many players. In exchange for the lower monthly rate, future Call of Duty titles will no longer launch on the service day one. They are scheduled to arrive roughly one year later during the subsequent holiday season. Existing COD entries in the library remain accessible. This marks the first time a major first-party franchise has received this delayed treatment on Game Pass.

Community response on Reddit and X appears mixed but leans toward acceptance of the trade-off, with some users noting the $84 annual savings may still not restore previous enthusiasm levels. Others expressed mild relief at the reversal while questioning the precedent for future major releases. Subscriber metrics and long-term retention impacts were not detailed in the announcement. The change took effect immediately on April 21, 2026.

The adjustment reflects a measured recalibration of subscription economics amid broader consumer price sensitivity. It will be recorded in the quarterly filings accordingly.