Microsoft has unveiled surprising changes to its subscription service, hinting at the future of Xbox. Recently, the cost of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate was reduced from $29.99 to $22.99 per month, despite previous price increases. However, future Call of Duty titles will no longer be available on Game Pass at launch. This decision ends Microsoft’s experiment where it aimed to enhance Game Pass by offering new Call of Duty games on the platform. The move was intended to address Game Pass’s high cost and declining Call of Duty sales. Initially, this strategy began in 2024 with the release of Modern Warfare III on Game Pass a year after launch. Though meant to boost subscribers, the initiative didn’t lead to the desired growth. Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard aimed to expand Game Pass’s content, yet the service hasn’t seen significant subscriber increases. Furthermore, offering Call of Duty on Game Pass led to substantial sales declines, with losses of $300 million reported last year. With Xbox under new leadership following Phil Spencer’s retirement and Asha Sharma’s appointment, the company aims to make Game Pass more affordable, acknowledging its high cost. This change is designed to address previous missteps, although future Call of Duty games will still join Game Pass a year post-release. For subscribers, the price cut is beneficial, but the absence of immediate Call of Duty releases may affect its appeal. Xbox now faces a critical period, and the adjustments indicate a shift towards rectifying past errors.
Call of Duty Wasn’t a Natural Fit for Xbox Game Pass
2 Min Read