Xbox is making a massive change to how you pay for and play its biggest games. Starting today, April 21, 2026, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is dropping from $29.99 USD to $22.99 USD a month. PC Game Pass is also getting a price cut, moving from $16.49 USD to $13.99 USD. These drops respond to feedback about the cost of the service. And they also bring a new rule for the Call of Duty franchise.
Future Call of Duty titles won’t arrive on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass on their launch day. Instead, you’ll have to wait until the following holiday season. This is roughly a year after launch to see them added to the library. If you already play the existing Call of Duty games currently in the library, those aren’t going anywhere.
This is a major shift from the “day one” promise that has defined the service for years. Other major Xbox games will still arrive on launch day, but the biggest annual shooter is moving to a different window to help balance the lower monthly cost. You still get access to hundreds of other games, online multiplayer, and the ability to stream titles to your devices.
As a reminder, you don’t need Ultimate just to access Xbox Cloud Gaming. Ultimate is required if you want 1440p streaming quality, but Xbox Cloud Gaming is included across all the main Game Pass tiers. This price drop makes getting into the platform much more affordable if you’re looking for a way to play without a console.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass Still Offer Major Value
Despite the change for Call of Duty, the service remains a primary way to play new releases from other Xbox studios. Upcoming games like Fable and Forza Horzion 6 are still expected to hit the service on their first day. The $7 USD monthly savings on Ultimate adds up to $84 USD a year, which is more than the cost of a single retail game.
If you’re already a subscriber, your billing should update automatically on your next cycle. For those who left because of the previous price hikes, this might be the right time to jump back in.
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