The backlash began in October 2025, when Xbox raised Game Pass Ultimate from $19.99 to $29.99 a month. On April 21, 2026, Xbox cut Ultimate to $22.99 and PC Game Pass to $13.99—but future Call of Duty games stopped being day-one inclusions. The controversy was therefore not simply a price increase. It was a repricing of the service alongside a major change to one of its most important promises.
The timeline in brief
- Ultimate rose 50%, from $19.99 to $29.99 monthly, in October 2025.
- Xbox communities reported cancellations, anger and attempts to lock in older pricing through subscription stacking. Tom’s Guide and reported coverage documented the reaction.
- On April 21, 2026, Ultimate fell to $22.99 and PC Game Pass to $13.99 in the United States. Microsoft says prices vary by region. Xbox Wire
- Future Call of Duty releases are expected to reach Ultimate and PC Game Pass around the following holiday season, rather than at launch.
What changed in price?
The figures below are US monthly prices. Taxes, promotions, legacy billing and retailer codes can change the amount a particular subscriber pays.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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$100 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code] | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![$10 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41MEiiMQqmL._SL160_.jpg)
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$10 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code] | $10.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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$50 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code] | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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$25 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code] | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Xbox Physical Gift Card | $25 | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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| Plan | Before October 2025 | After 2025 overhaul | 2026 position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Pass Ultimate | $19.99 | $29.99 | $22.99 from April 21, 2026 |
| PC Game Pass | $11.99 historically cited | $16.49 | $13.99 from April 21, 2026 |
| Game Pass Premium | Replaced Game Pass Standard | $14.99 reported in 2025 coverage | Check the live US checkout page |
| Game Pass Essential | Replaced Game Pass Core | $9.99 reported in 2025 coverage | Check the live US checkout page |
The 2025 Ultimate price equaled $359.88 a year before tax. The current $22.99 rate equals $275.88, assuming uninterrupted monthly billing and no promotion; it is still above the former $19.99 price.
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Why long-time subscribers objected
A 50% increase targeted the most committed users
Ultimate subscribers were paying for day-one releases, online console multiplayer, cloud gaming and a large rotating catalog. A $10 monthly increase made the service’s annual cost roughly $120 higher before the later reduction.
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- THE PERFECT GAMING GIFT — Buy an XBOX Gift Card for yourself or a friend and let them choose the games, add‑ons, subscriptions, and accessories they want most.
- USE FOR GAMES & CONTENT — Redeem for thousands of digital XBOX games, from backward compatible classics to the latest new releases, plus DLC and in‑game currency.
- GAME PASS READY — Apply your balance toward XBOX Game Pass Ultimate to play new titles on day one* and access a library of hundreds of high‑quality console games.
- PRE‑ORDER & PRE‑INSTALL GAMES — Use your balance to pre‑order and pre‑download upcoming titles so you’re ready to play the moment they launch.
- NO FEES OR EXPIRATION — XBOX Gift Cards never expire and have no service fees, so your balance is ready whenever you are.
New benefits did not help every player
The overhaul added or expanded features including Fortnite Crew, EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, cloud-streaming improvements and rewards. Those benefits have real value only to players who use them, so a larger bundle did not feel like equal compensation to every subscriber.
Call of Duty became the trust issue
Xbox had made day-one first-party access a central reason to choose Ultimate. Removing day-one access for future Call of Duty games led users to question whether other major releases could eventually receive similar treatment. That broader concern remains speculation, not an announced policy.
The tiers became harder to compare
Renamed plans, rotating catalogs, delayed first-party access, region-specific features and different cloud limits made the answer to “Is Game Pass worth it?” dependent on individual habits rather than one universal value proposition.
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- THE PERFECT GAMING GIFT — Buy an XBOX Gift Card for yourself or a friend and let them choose the games, add‑ons, subscriptions, and accessories they want most.
- USE FOR GAMES & CONTENT — Redeem for thousands of digital XBOX games, from backward compatible classics to the latest new releases, plus DLC and in‑game currency.
- GAME PASS READY — Apply your balance toward XBOX Game Pass Ultimate to play new titles on day one* and access a library of hundreds of high‑quality console games.
- PRE‑ORDER & PRE‑INSTALL GAMES — Use your balance to pre‑order and pre‑download upcoming titles so you’re ready to play the moment they launch.
- NO FEES OR EXPIRATION — XBOX Gift Cards never expire and have no service fees, so your balance is ready whenever you are.
What evidence shows a genuine outcry?
Community posts in r/xbox and r/XboxGamePass include cancellations, downgrades and complaints about Call of Duty. They demonstrate the themes and intensity of discussion, not the views of all Xbox customers.
Windows Central reported that cancellations strained Microsoft’s website. In June 2026, reports citing Xbox Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball said Game Pass lost “millions” of subscribers after the 2025 increase: Pure Xbox and Windows Central. This is an executive statement reported by media, not an audited subscriber total published by Microsoft.
Xbox’s April announcement described the adjustment as a response to player feedback and acknowledged that Ultimate had become too expensive for too many players. It did not publish a subscriber count.
Rank #3
- THE PERFECT GAMING GIFT — Buy an XBOX Gift Card for yourself or a friend and let them choose the games, add‑ons, subscriptions, and accessories they want most.
- USE FOR GAMES & CONTENT — Redeem for thousands of digital XBOX games, from backward compatible classics to the latest new releases, plus DLC and in‑game currency.
- GAME PASS READY — Apply your balance toward XBOX Game Pass Ultimate to play new titles on day one* and access a library of hundreds of high‑quality console games.
- PRE‑ORDER & PRE‑INSTALL GAMES — Use your balance to pre‑order and pre‑download upcoming titles so you’re ready to play the moment they launch.
- NO FEES OR EXPIRATION — XBOX Gift Cards never expire and have no service fees, so your balance is ready whenever you are.
What Ultimate now includes—and what it does not
Xbox’s current comparison page lists Ultimate with 500-plus games across supported devices, day-one access to new Xbox-published games and qualifying third-party releases, EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, Fortnite Crew, console multiplayer and unlimited cloud gaming. It also lists shorter queues and streaming quality up to 1440p on supported titles and devices.
The important exception is future Call of Duty. Xbox says those games are expected around the following holiday season rather than at launch. Existing Call of Duty games already in the library were not removed under the April announcement. Saying that “Call of Duty was removed from Game Pass” is therefore inaccurate.
How the current plans differ
Premium
Xbox lists 200-plus games, cloud gaming with shorter queues than lower tiers, and new Xbox-published games within 12 months rather than on day one. Contemporary US coverage reported a $14.99 monthly price; confirm the live checkout amount. The comparison does not list Fortnite Crew, EA Play or Ubisoft+ Classics for Premium.
Rank #4
- THE PERFECT GAMING GIFT — Buy an XBOX Gift Card for yourself or a friend and let them choose the games, add‑ons, subscriptions, and accessories they want most.
- USE FOR GAMES & CONTENT — Redeem for thousands of digital XBOX games, from backward compatible classics to the latest new releases, plus DLC and in‑game currency.
- GAME PASS READY — Apply your balance toward XBOX Game Pass Ultimate to play new titles on day one* and access a library of hundreds of high‑quality console games.
- PRE‑ORDER & PRE‑INSTALL GAMES — Use your balance to pre‑order and pre‑download upcoming titles so you’re ready to play the moment they launch.
- NO FEES OR EXPIRATION — XBOX Gift Cards never expire and have no service fees, so your balance is ready whenever you are.
Essential
Essential is aimed at budget-conscious console players who mainly need online multiplayer and a smaller catalog. Xbox warns that titles, counts and features vary by region, platform, plan and time. Free-to-play multiplayer is available to all Xbox players, so that use alone does not require a paid Game Pass plan.
PC Game Pass
PC Game Pass suits Windows-only players and costs $13.99 monthly in the US under the April 2026 update. It does not provide console access, and future Call of Duty releases no longer arrive day one through the plan.
Which option fits your spending?
| Your pattern | Likely choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Several new Xbox releases each year; console and PC use; bundled services matter | Ultimate | Day-one Xbox-published games, largest catalog and broadest benefits |
| You want cloud gaming and a substantial library but can wait up to 12 months | Premium | Lower reported price with delayed first-party access |
| You mainly need console multiplayer and play occasionally | Essential | Lower-cost access with a smaller catalog |
| You play on Windows only | PC Game Pass | PC catalog without console benefits |
| You mainly play Call of Duty at launch or only one or two games yearly | Buy individually or compare carefully | Future day-one Call of Duty is excluded; ownership may better match limited use |
Use a simple break-even test: compare the subscription’s annual cost with the actual retail prices of games you would otherwise buy. Do not count every catalog title unless you would genuinely play it, and account for multiplayer, cloud use, discounts and the value of included services.
Best Value
- XBOX GIFT CARD: Buy full digital game downloads, game add-ons, in-game currency, memberships, devices, apps, movies, TV shows, and more.
- DIGITAL GAMES: Choose from hundreds of games, from AAA to indie options. Start playing the moment your most anticipated game is available when you pre-order and pre-download it.
- GAME AD-ONS: Extend the experience of your favorite games with add-ons and in-game currency.
- MOVIES & TV SHOWS: Rent or buy new and popular movies and TV shows from a massive library.
- PERFECT GIFT: Great as a gift for a friend or yourself. Xbox Gift Cards are easy to use, never expire, and give the freedom to pick the gift they want. Enjoy more ways to play without a credit card attached to your Microsoft account.
What the backlash means for Xbox
The episode exposes a strategic tension. Xbox wants recurring subscription revenue while publishers still need full-price sales. It also has to serve console, PC, cloud and multiplatform players without making the day-one promise so expensive that subscribers leave. The reported subscriber losses and subsequent price correction suggest that the 2025 increase damaged retention, but the available evidence does not establish Game Pass’s long-term profitability or future policy.
For consumers, the practical choice is no longer “pay $30 or cancel.” It is whether $22.99 is justified by day-one Xbox releases, cloud quality, the catalog and bundled services—and whether losing day-one Call of Duty changes that calculation.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
