[STEAM] Xbox drops Game Pass Ultimate price to $22.99 but removes Call of Duty Day One access

[Steam 0]

Xbox has reduced the monthly price of Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 to $22.99, marking the first price decrease for the tier since it was raised by 50 percent last October. The reduction comes alongside a notable change to the service’s content offering — future Call of Duty titles will no longer be available on Day One.

The announcement was made on 21 April by Asha Sharma, who assumed the role of Xbox CEO following the retirement of Phil Spencer in February. Sharma confirmed the change via a

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, stating that Game Pass Ultimate had become too expensive for too many players.

Price reduction details

The new monthly price of $22.99 represents a reduction of $7 from the $29.99 rate introduced in October 2025, which had itself represented a 50 percent increase from the previous $19.99 price. The updated pricing does not fully restore the pre-October rate but brings the subscription closer to its prior level.

The price change takes effect immediately for new subscribers. Details regarding the impact on existing subscribers have not been confirmed at the time of writing.

Call of Duty no longer Day One on Game Pass Ultimate

Alongside the price reduction, Sharma confirmed that future Call of Duty releases will no longer be available on Game Pass Ultimate at launch. New titles in the franchise will instead be added to the service during the holiday season following their release, placing a gap of approximately one year between a game’s commercial launch and its availability on the subscription.

Previously released Call of Duty titles will remain accessible through Game Pass Ultimate. The change applies only to future releases in the franchise.

The removal of Call of Duty Day One access is widely understood to reflect the cost burden the franchise placed on the subscription tier. Call of Duty remains one of Activision’s highest-revenue franchises, and its inclusion as a Day One benefit had been a significant factor in sustaining the elevated pricing introduced last year.

Xbox under new leadership

The price adjustment is the first major public move from Sharma since she took over from Phil Spencer. Spencer’s retirement in February also prompted the resignation of Xbox President Sarah Bond, who had been widely regarded as his likely successor. Sharma joined from an AI division within

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and has stated that her focus is on Xbox as a platform for players and developers rather than an AI integration push.

Xbox’s broader product roadmap remains centred on Project Helix, a reported console and PC hybrid device expected to launch within the next two years. Sharma is understood to have used a significant portion of GDC 2026 to engage directly with developers, publishers, and investors about the platform’s direction.

For Xbox subscribers across the Middle East, the reduced Game Pass Ultimate price takes effect immediately. The service provides access to a catalogue of games across Xbox consoles and PC, and the price adjustment makes it more competitive against comparable subscription tiers in the region.

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