Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gets a price cut but loses new Call of Duty games
Source: The Verge
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price cut
Microsoft is lowering the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass following comments from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma that “Game Pass has become too expensive for players.”
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: now $22.99/month (down from $29.99)
- PC Game Pass: now $13.99/month (down from $16.49)
Changes to Call of Duty on Game Pass
New Call of Duty titles will no longer launch on Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. Microsoft says:
“New Call of Duty games will be added to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass during the following holiday season (about a year later), while existing Call of Duty titles already in the library will continue to be available.”
— Microsoft announcement
What remains unchanged
- The rest of the Game Pass catalog stays the same.
- Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential continue to include Xbox Cloud Gaming.
- Microsoft notes that the price adjustment reflects feedback from a diverse global player base.
“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.” — Microsoft
Background
The previous price increase in October was partly driven by the addition of Call of Duty to the subscription service. Earlier reporting highlighted internal debates about whether new Call of Duty releases should be included, due to concerns that Game Pass could cannibalize traditional sales.
- Earlier coverage of the debate: The Verge, May 2024
- Recent comment from Asha Sharma: The Verge article on pricing concerns
The removal of new Call of Duty entries from Game Pass suggests Microsoft is reconsidering the strategy of bundling its biggest revenue driver into the subscription model.