Trending Now - Microsoft Slashes Game Pass Price, Excludes New Call of Duty

WHO:

Ars Technica - Asha Sharma is the new Xbox CEO.

NY Post - Microsoft is the parent company of Xbox.

WHAT:

BBC - Asha Sharma stated, "It's a lot more accessible to a lot more people. So that is good in my eyes… people just couldn't afford to be paying that much per month for this library of games."

Engadget - The price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is now $23 per month, down from $30, and the price of PC Game Pass is now $14 per month, down from $16.50.

Engadget - New 'Call of Duty' games will no longer be available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass on day one; they will be available approximately one year after their initial release, during the following holiday season.

Engadget - Microsoft previously increased the price of Game Pass Ultimate to $30 per month in October 2025, marking a 50 percent price hike.

Engadget - Asha Sharma expressed in a memo that the subscription "has become too expensive for players, so we need a better value equation," indicating a shift in strategy for Xbox Game Pass.

Engadget - The Xbox team stated, "Our players cover a wide breadth of geographies, preferences, and tastes, so while there isn’t a single model that’s best for everyone, this change responds to a lot of feedback we’ve gotten so far."

Engadget - New 'Call of Duty' games will be the only first-party Xbox games that do not hit Game Pass on their release date.

Engadget - The price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is now $23 per month, down from $30, and the price of PC Game Pass is now $14 per month, down from $16.50.

Engadget - The Xbox team noted in a blog post that prices for Game Pass may vary by region.

Engadget - Asha Sharma stated in a memo that the subscription "has become too expensive for players, so we need a better value equation. Long term, we will evolve Game Pass into a more flexible system which will take time to test and learn around."

Engadget - The price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is now $22.99 per month, down from $30, and the price of PC Game Pass is now $14.00 per month, down from $16.50.

Engadget - New 'Call of Duty' games will be available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass approximately one year after their initial release, during the following holiday season.

Engadget - Microsoft is implementing a price reduction for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $22.99 per month, effective immediately.

Engadget - The price of PC Game Pass is being reduced to $14.00 per month, effective immediately.

Engadget - New 'Call of Duty' games will be available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass approximately one year after their initial release, during the following holiday season.

Engadget - The price of PC Game Pass is being reduced from $16.50 to $14.00 per month.

Engadget - New 'Call of Duty' games will be available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass approximately one year after their initial release, during the following holiday season.

Engadget - Microsoft previously increased the price of Game Pass Ultimate to $30 per month in October 2025, marking a 50 percent price hike.

Ars Technica - The price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is being reduced to $22.99 per month, a decrease of $7.00 from the previous price of $29.99.

NY Post - New 'Call of Duty' games will not be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch, marking a significant change in Microsoft's strategy for the franchise.

GeekWire - Microsoft is reducing the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 to $22.99 per month.

NY Post - New 'Call of Duty' games will not be included in Xbox Game Pass at launch.

WHERE:

Ars Technica - The changes pertain to Xbox Game Pass, a subscription service offered by Microsoft.

WHEN:

GeekWire - The price cut and policy change are the first major actions taken by Asha Sharma since her appointment as Xbox CEO in 2026.

WHY:

Sportskeeda - Microsoft has announced another major change to Xbox Game Pass, lowering the monthly cost of Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass after a sharp price increase earlier in 2026.

Engadget - The changes are an attempt to generate more revenue from the 'Call of Duty' franchise, which is a significant reason for Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Engadget - Asha Sharma stated that the subscription "has become too expensive for players, so we need a better value equation."

Engadget - Asha Sharma expressed that the subscription "has become too expensive for players, so we need a better value equation."

Ars Technica - The new Xbox CEO stated that the subscription "has become too expensive for too many players."

HOW:

Engadget - Microsoft is considering introducing a higher-level Game Pass tier or an add-on that would include day-one access to 'Call of Duty' games, although there is no official confirmation of this plan yet.

GeekWire - Microsoft is implementing a price reduction strategy for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate while excluding future 'Call of Duty' titles from the service at launch.

(UPDATED April 22, 2026 17:20 UTC)

Microsoft has announced a significant change to Xbox Game Pass, lowering the monthly cost of both Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass after a sharp price increase earlier in 2026. Asha Sharma commented that this move makes the service much more accessible to a wider audience, noting that many people couldn't afford the previous pricing for the extensive library of games. This adjustment is seen as a positive step in making gaming more affordable for everyone.

(UPDATED April 22, 2026 13:20 UTC)

Microsoft has announced a price reduction for its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, now set at $23 per month, down from $30, while the PC Game Pass will cost $14 per month, reduced from $16.50. However, new 'Call of Duty' games will no longer be available on these services on their release day; instead, they will be accessible about a year later during the holiday season. These adjustments come as part of Microsoft's strategy to boost revenue from the 'Call of Duty' franchise, a key factor in their $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

(UPDATED April 22, 2026 11:24 UTC)

Asha Sharma has announced a strategic shift for Xbox Game Pass, stating in a memo that the subscription has become too expensive for players and needs a better value equation. The Xbox team emphasized that their diverse player base has prompted this change, which will also see new 'Call of Duty' games as the only first-party titles not available on Game Pass at launch. This adjustment aims to boost revenue from the 'Call of Duty' franchise, a key factor in Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

(UPDATED April 22, 2026 09:21 UTC)

Microsoft has announced a price reduction for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, now $23 per month, down from $30, while PC Game Pass will now cost $14 per month, reduced from $16.50. However, new 'Call of Duty' games will no longer be available on these services on their release day; instead, they will be accessible approximately one year later during the holiday season. The company is exploring the possibility of a higher-level Game Pass tier or an add-on for day-one access to 'Call of Duty' games, although no official details have been confirmed.

(UPDATED April 22, 2026 05:42 UTC)

Microsoft is making significant changes to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, with Asha Sharma stating that the pricing has become too high for players and that a more flexible system will be developed over time. The price for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has dropped to $22.99 per month from $30, while PC Game Pass is now $14.00 per month, down from $16.50. Additionally, new 'Call of Duty' games will be available on both Game Pass services about a year after their initial release, aligning with the holiday season, as part of an effort to boost revenue from this key franchise following Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

(UPDATED April 22, 2026 03:58 UTC)

Microsoft has announced a price reduction for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $22.99 per month and for PC Game Pass to $14.00 per month, both effective immediately. Asha Sharma explained that the subscription had become too expensive for players, prompting the need for a better value equation, and new 'Call of Duty' games will be available on both services about a year after their initial release during the following holiday season. Additionally, Microsoft is exploring the possibility of introducing a higher-level Game Pass tier or an add-on for day-one access to 'Call of Duty' games, although this plan has not been officially confirmed.

(UPDATED April 22, 2026 01:22 UTC)

Microsoft is reducing the price of PC Game Pass from $16.50 to $14.00 per month, responding to concerns that the subscription has become too expensive for players. Additionally, new 'Call of Duty' games will be available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass about a year after their initial release, coinciding with the holiday season. While there are discussions about potentially introducing a higher-level Game Pass tier or an add-on for day-one access to 'Call of Duty' games, no official confirmation has been made regarding this plan.

(UPDATED April 21, 2026 21:14 UTC)

The price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is being reduced to $22.99 per month, which is a $7.00 drop from the previous price of $29.99. In a significant shift in strategy, new 'Call of Duty' games will not be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch. This change marks a notable departure for Microsoft regarding its approach to the popular franchise.

(UPDATED April 21, 2026 19:21 UTC)

Asha Sharma has been named the new CEO of Xbox, taking the helm at Microsoft’s gaming division. In her first major move, Microsoft is reducing the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 to $22.99 per month, while also announcing that new 'Call of Duty' games will not be available on the service at launch. Sharma explained that the subscription had become too expensive for many players, prompting this strategic change.