Plus Icon
Todd Spangler
NY Digital Editor
xpangler See All
Microsoft/Activision Microsoft is dropping the price of its Xbox Game Pass subscription plans — and it’s also going to hold back new “Call of Duty” titles from the services for about a year.
Beginning this year, future releases of mega-popular first-person shooter “Call of Duty” releases, from Microsoft’s Activision division, won’t be available in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass at launch. According to Microsoft, new “CoD” games will be added to the subscription tiers during the following holiday season — about a year later. The company said existing “Call of Duty” titles in the library will continue to be available.
Starting Tuesday (April 21), the price of Game Pass Ultimate drops from $29.99 to $22.99 per month. PC Game Pass will drop from $16.49 to $13.99 per month.
Popular on Variety
“Game Pass Ultimate has become too expensive for too many players,” Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma said in a post on X. “We’ll keep learning and evolving Game Pass to better match what matters to players.”
Microsoft said Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will continue to have access to “hundreds of games” on Xbox consoles and PCs including current “Call of Duty” titles, as well as in-game benefits, online console multiplayer and major day one releases.
“Our players cover a wide breadth of geographies, preferences, and tastes, so while there isn’t a single model that’s best for everyone, this change responds to a lot of feedback we’ve gotten so far,” the company said in announcing the change.
Separately, Paramount Pictures is developing a big-screen adaptation of “Call of Duty,” which is slated to premiere June 30, 2028. Pete Berg will direct from a script by Taylor Sheridan.
Pictured top: “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7,” released in November 2025
Jump to Comments-
Vince Gilligan Submits ‘Pluribus’ Pilot for Emmys. Will He Finally Win for Writing or Directing?
-
‘Malcolm in the Middle’ Revival Eligible in Emmys Comedy Race Despite Shortened Season (EXCLUSIVE)
-
Zendaya and Jean Smart Eye First-Ever Emmy Sweep by Women for a Single Series. Will They Pull It Off?
-
Is It Finally Time for ‘Survivor’ to Win the Emmy? Season 50 Makes Its Strongest Case Yet
-
‘DTF St. Louis’ Proves David Harbour Is More Than a Genre Star — And It Could Make Him an Emmy Contender
-
Dropout’s Emmys Surprise: ‘Game Changer’ and ‘Very Important People’ Enter 11 Categories as Vic Michaelis Joins Lead Comedy Actress Race (EXCLUSIVE)
