Xbox game pass cuts prices, but call of duty fans lose out

Microsoft is shaking up its Xbox Game Pass subscription model, slashing prices but simultaneously erecting a significant barrier for fans of the Call of Duty franchise. The move, confirmed just days after widespread rumors, signals a shift in strategy—one that prioritizes upfront game sales over the allure of the subscription service, at least for AAA titles.

A price drop with a catch

Game Pass Ultimate is dropping from €26.99 to €20.99 per month, while the PC version will see a decrease from €14.99 to €12.99. It’s a welcome change, particularly given the frequent price hikes we’ve seen across the subscription landscape. Asha Sharma, the newly appointed head of Xbox, is seemingly undoing the unpopular increases implemented last October—a decision that will be lauded by most, except those eagerly anticipating the latest Call of Duty entry.

The reality is that those October price increases were, in large part, designed to offset the considerable cost of adding Call of Duty games to Game Pass. Each title typically carries an individual price tag of €60-€80, and Microsoft’s decision to include them in the subscription model undeniably impacted their direct sales revenue. This created a situation where users who didn’t even play Call of Duty were effectively subsidizing the service for others, with monthly fees jumping by as much as €9. Sharma’s correction, as she stated on X, acknowledges that Game Pass had become