Beyond pricing, Xbox has clarified how some of its biggest franchises will be handled going forward.
A fresh update to Xbox Game Pass has landed, bringing a lower monthly cost alongside a significant change to how future Call of Duty titles will arrive on the service.
Announced via Xbox Wire on Wednesday (22 April) the update introduces immediate price reductions for Game Pass tiers, while setting expectations for one of the platform’s biggest franchises.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has lowered prices
In the official post, Team Xbox confirmed that “starting today, Game Pass Ultimate drops from US$29.99 to US$22.99 a month,” marking a noticeable reduction for the all-in-one subscription tier. PC Game Pass is also seeing a decrease, now priced at US$13.99 per month, down from US$16.49. The company noted that pricing may still differ depending on region, but the changes are effective immediately for subscribers.
Why has Xbox updated Game Pass pricing?
According to Team Xbox, the changes reflect ongoing feedback from players across different regions and play styles. While no single model fits everyone, the adjustments aim to better align the service with how it is being used.
However, despite the shift in release timing for upcoming Call of Duty titles, the overall Game Pass Ultimate offering remains intact. Subscribers will continue to access a large library of games across console and PC, along with additional features tied to the subscription.
Will new Call of Duty games be on Game Pass at launch?
Alongside the pricing update, Xbox clarified how future Call of Duty releases will be handled within Game Pass: they will no longer be day-one additions.
The announcement states that “future Call of Duty titles won’t join Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass at launch.” Instead, new entries in the franchise will be introduced to the service “during the following holiday season (about a year later).”
However, current Call of Duty titles already included in the Game Pass catalogue will remain available to subscribers without changes.
Further details on the different tiers, including Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, Game Pass Essential, and PC Game Pass, can be found on the official Microsoft and Xbox websites.
