Xbox reduces Game Pass prices, eliminates day-one Call of Duty access
Microsoft announced that Call of Duty games will join subscription service approximately one year after release
Xbox has announced a reduction in the cost of its Game Pass subscription, reversing a significant increase from six months ago of over 50%.
However, Microsoft has stated that fresh Call of Duty releases will only join the higher-tier Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass approximately a year post-launch.
Fan feedback was divided; some applauded Xbox for being responsive to customer input on pricing, while others voiced concerns over potential removal of other key titles in the future, citing trust issues.
This shift represents a change from the typical approach of subscription services, which, like Game Pass, have faced criticism over consistent price rises.
For a single monthly charge, Game Pass offers access to a wide selection of Xbox games.
An internal memo from CEO Asha Sharma, obtained by The Verge, admitted that the service had become "too pricey for players."
In the UK, the monthly fee for Game Pass Ultimate is down from £22.99 to £16.99, and PC Game Pass is reduced from £13.49 to £10.99, with variations depending on the region.
Six months earlier, Microsoft’s 50% price hike left fans displeased, with many considering canceling their subscriptions.
Christopher Dring, who edits The Game Business, believes the price reduction highlights Microsoft's challenges in rebuilding trust among its user base.
Much like other companies within the industry, Xbox has dealt with several layoffs and project cancellations in recent years.
A 2024 announcement on making previously exclusive titles available on other platforms provoked additional backlash.
Following Sharma's leaked memo, business expert Joost van Dreunen speculated that Xbox might shift to heavily leveraging advertisements for revenue, rather than focusing on subscriptions or content sales.
He suggested that under Sharma’s leadership, Xbox might evolve into a platform business, focusing on audience engagement instead of solely on content access.
Sharma, who previously led AI efforts at Microsoft, has communicated her aim to "understand what keeps this successful and safeguard it."
A statement revealing plans for a new console, codenamed Project Helix, reaffirmed Xbox's "dedication to its resurgence," according to Sharma.
Dring commented on the rarity of subscription price decreases, noting that the Ultimate tier remains "35% pricier than two years ago."
Earlier in the year, Netflix adjusted its pricing in the UK following hikes in the US, Canada, Argentina, and Portugal.
"Frequent subscribers who used Game Pass to play the latest Call of Duty just for a few months are the main losers here," Dring explained.
Dedicated Call of Duty enthusiast Chantelle Parker shared she was not troubled by the omission of new game releases from Game Pass.
Known online as Chantelle Plays, the streamer regarded the price cut as advantageous for less frequent players, as they no longer subsidize new Call of Duty game additions.