Microsoft is cutting Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass prices after a controversial 50% hike just months ago.Future “Call of Duty” titles will no longer arrive on Game Pass on launch day, instead landing roughly one year after retail release.
The price reversal comes amid a broader industry trend of rising hardware and software costs from Sony and Nintendo.
In a striking strategic pivot, Microsoft has announced a price reduction for its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscriptions, walking back a steep October increase that had sparked widespread player backlash. The move is paired with a major change to how its flagship “Call of Duty” franchise integrates with the service. Moving forward, new installments in the blockbuster series will not be available on Game Pass the same day they launch in stores. Instead, subscribers will need to wait approximately one year after a title’s commercial release to access it through the platform. Importantly, previously released “Call of Duty” games will remain unaffected by this delayed-access policy.
The subscription price cut marks a notable reversal from late last year, when Microsoft raised Game Pass Ultimate from $19.99 to $29.99 per month, a dramatic 50 percent jumpand PC Game Pass from $11.99 to $16.49. That decision had drawn sharp criticism from the gaming community, which now sees the company responding with a rare discounting strategy. While Microsoft has not disclosed the new pricing in exact figures, the move signals an effort to retain subscribers amid shifting content value and rising competition.
Microsoft’s price adjustment stands in stark contrast to recent moves by rivals. Earlier this month, Sony increased the price of its PlayStation 5 console, now more than five years old, by $100. Microsoft itself had previously raised the cost of its Xbox Series X system, and Nintendo increased the price of its original Switch model, although it held the line on the newly launched Switch 2. Beyond hardware, game pricing is also escalating. Nintendo has adopted a variable pricing model, charging $70 for some titles while pricing “Mario Kart World” at $80. The company further varies costs based on whether a consumer buys a physical copy or a downloadable version, underscoring a broader industry shift toward tiered and delayed-access strategies.
