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Introduction
Xbox Game Pass price cut news broke on April 22, 2026, and it brings both relief and a major catch.
Just six months after a controversial 50% price hike, Microsoft is lowering the cost of its flagship subscription service. Game Pass Ultimate drops from £22.99 to £16.99 monthly in the UK. PC Game Pass falls from £13.49 to £10.99 . However, the cheaper price comes with a significant trade-off. New Call of Duty games will no longer arrive on Game Pass day one. Instead, they will join the library “about a year” after release.
This post breaks down the Xbox Game Pass price cut in detail. You will see the new pricing across all tiers. Additionally, you will understand why Microsoft reversed course so quickly. Furthermore, you will learn what subscribers and experts are saying about the change. Finally, you will know whether the new value equation works for you.
For a complete timeline of the pricing changes over the past year, see our Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price timeline . Meanwhile, for a breakdown of what Ultimate currently includes, read our Game Pass Ultimate benefits guide .
The New Pricing: What Each Tier Costs Now
The Xbox Game Pass price cut affects the top two subscription tiers. The lower tiers remain unchanged.
| Subscription Tier | Old Price (UK) | New Price (UK) | Day-One COD Access? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Pass Ultimate | £22.99/month | £16.99/month | No (arrives ~1 year later) |
| PC Game Pass | £13.49/month | £10.99/month | No (arrives ~1 year later) |
| Game Pass Premium | £10.99/month | £10.99/month | No (never had it) |
| Game Pass Essential | £6.99/month | £6.99/month | No (never had it) |
Pricing varies by region, but the proportional reductions are similar worldwide. The price cut represents a 26% reduction for Ultimate and a 19% reduction for PC Game Pass in the UK.
Why Microsoft Reversed Course
The Xbox Game Pass price cut follows a leaked internal memo from new Xbox boss Asha Sharma.
In the memo, seen by The Verge, Sharma admitted that Game Pass had “become too expensive for players.” The October 2025 price hike—which pushed Ultimate to £22.99—triggered significant backlash. Many fans claimed they would cancel their subscriptions. Christopher Dring, editor of The Game Business, noted that the cut reflects the “challenge” Microsoft faces to regain fans’ trust in the brand.
The core issue was Call of Duty. Including the franchise day one cost Microsoft hundreds of millions in lost game sales. Meanwhile, the higher subscription price alienated casual players who did not care about Call of Duty. The new strategy unbundles the franchise. Call of Duty fans can buy the game separately. Casual subscribers pay less for the library they actually use.
Mixed Reactions from Subscribers
Reaction to the Xbox Game Pass price cut has been divided.
Call of Duty streamer Chantelle Parker, known online as Chantelle Plays, called the price drop a “big win” for casual gamers. “I feel like Call of Duty fans like me will also just buy the game separately anyway,” she told BBC Newsbeat. She noted that the lower price makes the service “a lot more accessible to a lot more people.”
However, others expressed concern. Some fans noted the change creates “a trust issue” over what other first-party games could be removed from day-one access in the future. Dring observed that “the big losers from this cut are those who subscribe to Game Pass for a month or two to play the latest Call of Duty, and then leave.”
What This Means for the Future of Xbox
The Xbox Game Pass price cut signals a strategic shift under new leadership.
Business professor Joost van Dreunen believes Xbox will “start relying much more heavily on advertising” rather than subscription revenue alone. Under Sharma, who started in February 2026, Xbox is more likely to “behave like a scaled platform business, monetizing audience attention rather than just access to content.”
For subscribers, the immediate impact is clear. Ultimate is now £6 cheaper per month. PC Game Pass is £2.50 cheaper. But if you want day-one Call of Duty, you must now buy the game separately for approximately £70.
For a deeper look at Asha Sharma’s vision for Xbox, read our profile of the new Xbox CEO and her flexible Game Pass strategy .
Conclusion
The Xbox Game Pass price cut of April 2026 corrects a pricing misstep that alienated subscribers.
Ultimate now costs £16.99 monthly in the UK, down from £22.99. PC Game Pass drops to £10.99. The trade-off—no more day-one Call of Duty—will frustrate some players but benefit the majority who do not prioritize the franchise. New CEO Asha Sharma has moved quickly to restore value to the subscription.
Whether this new balance holds remains to be seen. For now, subscribers can enjoy a more affordable Game Pass without sacrificing the core library of hundreds of games.
