Xbox cuts prices for Game Pass but ends day-one Call of Duty access

Xbox cuts prices for Game Pass but ends day-one Call of Duty accessJust nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleLaura CressTechnology reporterActivisionThe latest Call of Duty, Black Ops 7, was released in 2025Xbox says it is dropping the prices of its subscription service Game Pass, just six months after hiking them by more than 50%.But the Microsoft-owned company said new Call of Duty games will only be added to the more premium Game Pass Ultimate and also PC Game Pass "about a year" after they are released.Reaction from fans was mixed, with some praising Xbox for "listening to feedback" on prices, while others noted it created "a trust issue" over what other first-party games could be removed in future.The announcement marks a departure from some other subscription services though, many of which - including Game Pass - have been criticised for regularly hiking monthly prices.Game Pass gives players access to a vault of Xbox games for a flat monthly fee.But a recent leaked internal memo from new boss Asha Sharma, seen by The Verge, admitted it had "become too expensive for players".In the UK, Game Pass Ultimate has dropped from £22.99 to £16.99 a month and PC Game Pass from £13.49 to £10.99 a month, with prices varying by region. Six months ago, news that Microsoft had hiked the price of the subscription service by more than 50% was met with anger from fans, with many claiming they would cancel.Christopher Dring, editor of The Game Business, said the price cut reflects the "challenge" Microsoft faces to regain fans' trust in the brand.Xbox, as with many other companies in the industry, has been hit with waves of layoffs and cancelled projects over recent years. An announcement in 2024 that it would begin to publish formerly exclusive titles on other consoles was met with further backlash from fans.Following the leaked memo from Sharma, business professor Joost van Dreunen said he believed it was likely "Xbo...