Just one week after new Xbox chief Asha Sharma admitted that Game Pass had become "too expensive," Microsoft has officially announced that Xbox Game Pass prices are dropping significantly. This move follows a period of intense scrutiny regarding the rising costs of the subscription service.
Significant Redu'ctions for Xbox Game Pass Prices
According to a recent Xbox Wire post, Microsoft is implementing notable cuts to its primary tiers. While these reductions do not return the service to the lower rates seen prior to the massive October 2025 price hike—when Ultimate was $19.99 and PC Game Pass was $11.99—the movement is clearly in the right direction.
The new monthly rates are as follows:
- Game Pass Ultimate: Dropping from $29.99 to $22.99
- PC Game Pass: Dropping from $16.49 to $13.99
As with all global services, "prices may vary by region." However, for many users, a $3 increase on Ultimate is much easier to swallow than the previous 50% hike.
The Call of Duty Delay Strategy
The reduction in Xbox Game Pass prices does not come without a significant trade-off for franchise fans. Moving forward, new Call of Duty titles will no longer be available on the service at launch.
Instead, Microsoft confirmed that these games will be added to both the Ultimate and PC Game Pass libraries "during the following holiday season (about a year later)." This change will not impact any Call of Duty titles that are already available on the platform, but it marks a major shift for future releases.
Analyzing the Shift in Microsoft’s Strategy
This decision likely stems from the economic reality of day-one releases. Microsoft reportedly lost an estimated $300 million in sales for Black Ops 6 because the game was available on Game Pass at launch. Furthermore, a staggering 82% of the game's full-price sales in October 2025 were recorded on PlayStation 5, where Game Pass is not available.
Microsoft suggests that this pivot is a direct response to user input:
"Our players cover a wide breadth of geographies, preferences, and tastes, so while there isn’t a single model that’s best for everyone, this change responds to a lot of feedback we’ve gotten so far. We’ll continue to listen and learn."
This strategic shift also follows major leadership transitions. After former president Sarah Bond resigned in February and CEO Phil Spencer retired, Asha Sharma took the reins with a promise to "recommit to our core Xbox fans and players." As the "everything is an Xbox" strategy appears to be fading, this new approach to Xbox Game Pass prices marks a definitive new era for the service.
