Xbox slashes Game Pass prices but delays Call of Duty day‑one access

Xbox has announced significant adjustments to its Game Pass subscription service in the UK, altering both pricing and content access. This move arrives six months after the company increased Game Pass prices by over 50%. Game Pass provides players with access to a rotating library of Xbox games for a flat monthly fee, a model that has become common in digital entertainment. An internal memo, reportedly from new Xbox President Asha Sharma, previously indicated the service had "become too expensive for players."

The price changes directly impact UK subscribers. Monthly prices for Game Pass Ultimate fell from £22.99 to £16.99. Similarly, PC Game Pass saw its monthly cost reduced from £13.49 to £10.99 per month. Simultaneously, Xbox confirmed a key change for its most anticipated titles: new Call of Duty games will now arrive on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass roughly one year after their initial retail launch. Existing Call of Duty titles already within the Game Pass library remain available.

This strategic shift represents a notable reversal of recent trends, both within Xbox and the broader subscription market. While many services, including competitors like Netflix, have raised prices, Xbox has opted to lower them. Christopher Dring, editor of The Game Business, observed that this price reduction underscores Microsoft's challenge to regain fans' trust in the Xbox brand. The delay of new Call of Duty access means subscribers seeking day-one access to these popular titles will need to purchase them separately. This potentially aims to cater to a broader audience who found the service's prior cost prohibitive, while segmenting immediate access for high-demand releases. Xbox has also recently published formerly exclusive titles on other consoles and faced industry-wide layoffs, indicating a broader strategic reassessment. The company continues to invest in hardware, with a new console, code-named Project Helix, currently in development, affirming its commitment to the Xbox ecosystem. Observers will monitor how these changes influence subscriber numbers and overall market positioning.