Introduction
The Xbox Game Pass price cut does not affect everyone equally.
Microsoft dropped Ultimate from £22.99 to £16.99 monthly on April 22, 2026. PC Game Pass fell from £13.49 to £10.99. On the surface, cheaper prices benefit all subscribers. However, the removal of day-one Call of Duty access creates a sharp divide between different types of players.
This post analyzes the Xbox Game Pass price cut from the perspective of different subscriber groups. You will see who benefits most from the lower prices. Additionally, you will understand who loses out. Furthermore, you will learn where you likely fit in the new value equation. Finally, you can decide whether to keep, cancel, or adjust your subscription.
For the full details on the new pricing, see our pillar post on the Xbox Game Pass price cut . Meanwhile, for subscriber reactions, read our price cut reaction article .
Winner: Casual Subscribers Who Don’t Play Call of Duty
The biggest winners from the Xbox Game Pass price cut are casual players who rarely or never touch Call of Duty.
Before the cut, these subscribers paid £22.99 monthly for Ultimate. A significant portion of that fee went toward subsidizing the enormous cost of including Call of Duty in the library. Now they pay £16.99 instead. That is an annual saving of £72.
Crucially, their experience remains unchanged. They still enjoy access to hundreds of games across console and PC. Day-one access to Xbox Game Studios titles like Forza Horizon, Fable, and Gears of War continues uninterrupted. Cloud gaming, EA Play, and online multiplayer all remain included.
For this group, the value proposition has never been better. They pay less for the same great service. The removal of day-one Call of Duty access is irrelevant to their gaming habits.
Loser: The Call of Duty-Only Subscriber
The clear losers from the Xbox Game Pass price cut are subscribers who joined specifically for day-one Call of Duty access.
These players typically subscribe for one or two months when a new Call of Duty releases. They play intensely, then cancel until the next installment. Under the old model, they paid perhaps £46 for two months of Ultimate and got a £70 game included. That was a fantastic deal.
Now the math has changed. A two-month Ultimate subscription costs £34. But they must also buy Call of Duty separately for around £70. Total cost: approximately £104. That is more than double their previous spend.
Christopher Dring, editor of The Game Business, identified this group as the biggest losers. “These gamers now either have to be patient, or buy the game in full,” he told the BBC. Their only alternative is to wait a year for Call of Duty to arrive on Game Pass. For dedicated fans, that feels like an eternity.
Neutral: PC-Only Subscribers
PC Game Pass subscribers occupy a middle ground in the Xbox Game Pass price cut equation.
Their monthly fee dropped from £13.49 to £10.99. That is an annual saving of £30. The PC library remains robust, with day-one access to Xbox Game Studios titles. Like Ultimate subscribers, they lose day-one Call of Duty access.
However, PC players were never the primary audience for Call of Duty on Game Pass. Many already purchased the game separately on Steam or Battle.net. For this group, the price cut is a pure win with minimal downside.
Winner: Families on the Family Plan
The Xbox Game Pass price cut also benefits households using the family plan.
A family Ultimate subscription covers up to five members. The monthly cost dropped proportionally, saving families even more than individual subscribers. Multiple family members can enjoy the same library for a lower total cost. The Call of Duty change matters less when the savings multiply across several users.
Where Do You Fit?
Use this simple checklist to determine your position after the Xbox Game Pass price cut.
- I play Call of Duty at launch every year. → You are a loser. Budget to buy the game separately.
- I rarely or never play Call of Duty. → You are a winner. Enjoy the £72 annual savings.
- I only play on PC. → You are neutral to positive. The £30 savings outweigh the Call of Duty loss.
- I share Game Pass with my family. → You are a big winner. The savings multiply across household members.
For a deeper look at Asha Sharma’s broader strategy, read our profile of the new Xbox CEO .
Conclusion
The Xbox Game Pass price cut creates a clear divide between winners and losers.
Casual subscribers save £72 annually and lose nothing they valued. Families save even more. Call of Duty-only subscribers face a harsh new reality: pay full price for the game or wait a year. PC players land somewhere in the middle.
Understanding which group you belong to helps you make an informed decision about your subscription. For most players, the new value equation works in their favor. For Call of Duty diehards, it is time to adjust expectations or open your wallet.
