Xbox Game Pass prices rise and Call of Duty leaves day-one catalog

In a major strategic pivot, Microsoft has adjusted its Xbox Game Pass pricing as of April 2026.

After facing backlash for a $29.99 monthly fee for Game Pass Ultimate, new CEO Asha Sharma has introduced price cuts to restore value to the service.

However, this relief comes with a trade-off: the Call of Duty franchise will no longer launch on Game Pass on 'day one'.

Future titles will only join the library roughly one year after their retail release, as the previous strategy was reportedly losing Microsoft over $300 million in potential sales.

These changes follow a tumultuous two-year period of restructuring, where Microsoft struggled to balance subscription growth with the high costs of its flagship titles.

While users may appreciate the lower monthly costs compared to the 2025 peak, the exclusion of day-one blockbusters signals a shift back toward traditional retail sales for Microsoft's biggest gaming assets.