Microsoft significantly lowers the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, but the new Call of Duty game won't be added for another year.

Microsoft has announced a significant price reduction for 'Xbox Game Pass Ultimate,' which was scheduled for a 50% price increase in October 2025. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated that it had become 'too expensive for many players.'

Game Pass Ultimate has become too expensive for too many players. Starting today, we're dropping the price from $29.99 to $22.99/month.
Future Call of Duty titles will no longer join Game Pass Ultimate on day one. They will join this tier the following holiday after launch (about…

— Asha (@asha_shar)

April 21, 2026

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Price Update - Xbox Wire
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/04/21/xbox-game-pass-update/?ocid=XGP_soc_omc_xbo_tw_Text_lrn_4.21.A


Dropping Game Pass's Price Is a Great First Step to Fixing Xbox's Problems
https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-game-pass-price-drop-opinion

Xbox Drops Prices For Game Pass Ultimate And PC Game Pass But New Call Of Duty Games Will No Longer Join The Library At Launch - Game Informer
https://gameinformer.com/2026/04/21/xbox-drops-prices-for-game-pass-ultimate-and-pc-game-pass-but-new-call-of-duty-games

Xbox Game Pass is a game subscription service offered by Microsoft. Originally, it consisted of three plans: 'Core,' 'Standard,' and 'Ultimate,' but in October 2025, it was reorganized into 'Essential,' 'Premium,' and 'Ultimate.' While there were no price changes from Core to Essential and from Standard to Premium, the Ultimate plan saw a 1.5-fold price increase, from $19.99 (approximately 3,190 yen) per month to $29.99 (approximately 4,780 yen). In Japan, the price also increased from 1,450 yen per month to 2,750 yen per month.

However, in February 2026, Phil Spencer, who had served as head of Xbox for many years, left Microsoft. His successor as CEO, Asha Sharma, began reforms.

Microsoft's head of gaming division, Phil Spencer, resigns - GIGAZINE

Sharma stated that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate had become 'too expensive for many users,' and announced a 23% price reduction to $22.99 per month (approximately 3,660 yen). In Japan, the price has been reduced from 2,750 yen per month to 1,550 yen per month.

Join Xbox Game Pass and discover your next favorite game | Xbox

However, this isn't simply a price reduction. Popular titles like the Call of Duty series will no longer be added to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on release day. Instead, they will be added during the following holiday season (approximately one year later). Titles already available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will remain playable.