What did Microsoft change about Game Pass?
Game Pass drops price; day-one Call of Duty exits
Microsoft has changed Xbox Game Pass in two interconnected ways: it cut the price of Game Pass Ultimate and ended the “day-one” inclusion of new Call of Duty titles on the service.
According to the reporting in the story set, the price reduction targets Ultimate and also applies to the PC Game Pass tier. The takeaway is that Microsoft is responding to negative feedback from players after a prior price hike.
At the same time, the company confirmed a major perk change: going forward, new Call of Duty releases will no longer be included at launch with Game Pass. The adjustment reframes the value proposition of Game Pass by shifting from a model that promised immediate access to blockbusters toward a subscription offering that is cheaper but less tied to first-day Call of Duty.
This matters for two audiences:
- Game Pass subscribers who subscribed specifically for day-one Call of Duty. They are now facing a tradeoff—lower monthly cost, but losing a key “must-play on day one” benefit.
- Activision and Xbox strategy more broadly. The change signals Microsoft is willing to renegotiate the deal mechanics around one of the biggest franchises in gaming to improve the subscription’s economics and address churn or dissatisfaction.
Related coverage also describes broader internal changes to Xbox’s gaming direction under new leadership, including debate about exclusivity and how best to “fix the fundamentals.”
In short, Microsoft is trying to keep subscriptions affordable while changing what they include at launch for future Call of Duty games, a shift that may affect both engagement and the subscription’s long-term competitive positioning.