Microsoft is trying to make Xbox Game Pass feel like a better deal again — but there is one very obvious trade-off for shooter fans.
Following a leaked memo from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, Microsoft has confirmed that it is reducing the price of its flagship gaming subscription service. Game Pass Ultimate is now priced at US$22.99, down from US$29.99, while PC Game Pass has dropped to US$13.99 from US$16.49.
For Malaysian and SEA players, that matters because Game Pass has always been one of the more tempting ways to stretch a gaming budget. Even when the price is converted into ringgit, paying one monthly fee for a big rotating library can make more sense than dropping RM200-RM300+ on every new release.
But the big catch is Call of Duty.
No more day-one Call of Duty on Game Pass
Microsoft says the current benefits inside Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass will stay in place after the price cut. So if something is already part of the subscription, it is not suddenly being removed because of this pricing change.
However, future Call of Duty releases will no longer arrive on Game Pass on launch day. That includes this year’s still-unannounced Call of Duty game.
Instead, new Call of Duty titles are expected to join Game Pass during the following holiday season — roughly one year after their initial release. Older Call of Duty games already available through the service will remain playable for subscribers.
That is a pretty major shift. So far, only two Call of Duty titles have launched day-one through Game Pass: 2024’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and last year’s Black Ops 7.
For SEA players, especially the squad that buys Call of Duty mainly for multiplayer grind, this changes the value calculation. If you are the type who wants to play on launch week, level weapons early, and not get left behind by the meta, Game Pass will no longer be your shortcut. You will probably still need to buy the game separately.
Why Microsoft is changing direction
Earlier this month, Sharma reportedly described Xbox Game Pass as too expensive in an internal memo, arguing that Microsoft needed to rethink how the service balances price and value. This price cut now looks like the company’s public answer.
In an Xbox Wire post, Sharma said Xbox players come from many different regions, preferences, and spending habits, and that Microsoft is responding to feedback while continuing to adjust the model.
This move also comes only around six months after a controversial Game Pass price hike. That increase annoyed plenty of long-time Xbox fans, even though Microsoft tried to soften the blow by adding perks like Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft Classics. Since Game Pass also got more expensive in 2024, some players felt Microsoft had pushed the subscription too far.
Good news, but not a full win
Honestly, this is a smart move — but not a perfect one.
A cheaper Game Pass is good for players, especially in markets like Malaysia where exchange rates make every US-priced subscription feel heavier. PC Game Pass becoming cheaper is especially relevant here because PC gaming is massive across SEA, and not everyone is buying an Xbox console.
But losing day-one Call of Duty weakens one of Microsoft’s biggest Game Pass flexes. After buying Activision Blizzard, the expectation was simple: big Xbox-owned games should make the subscription feel unbeatable. Now Microsoft seems to be saying that not every blockbuster can fit that model forever.
The wider industry is also shifting. Polygon notes that Nintendo has started cutting prices on some digital first-party games, while Sony is experimenting with more personalised discounting. At the same time, hardware prices have climbed across major platforms, and rising component costs could keep console prices painful.
So yes, Game Pass is cheaper now. That will win back some players. But if you mainly subscribed for Call of Duty on day one, the deal is no longer as clean as before.
Source: Polygon