Microsoft seems to be on a speedrun when it comes to enshittification (the decay of an online platform). The company has not only massively increased the prices for its Game Pass service but is also taking away Call of Duty—the biggest draw since the Activision-Blizzard acquisition—from many players. This Xbox Game Pass price increase is a tough pill to swallow for the community.
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Premium Tier: Plenty of Content, But No CoD
With the restructuring in early October, there are now four subscription tiers for Game Pass. For €12.99 per month, Game Pass Premium offers access to over 200 games, including recent hits like Diablo IV and Hogwarts Legacy. Cloud gaming, once reserved for Ultimate subscribers, is also included. It sounds like a great deal, but there’s a huge elephant in the room.
Call of Duty is left out. If you want to play the shooter on day one through Game Pass, you absolutely need the most expensive Ultimate subscription. Although Microsoft promotes the Premium tier with a strong library, the package suddenly seems far less attractive to many without one of the world’s most popular shooters.
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Ultimate Becomes the Luxury Subscription
This change makes accessing Call of Duty via Game Pass more expensive than ever. The Ultimate tier now costs €26.99 per month, a staggering 50 percent increase from its previous price. While Microsoft includes additional benefits like Ubisoft+ Classics and the Fortnite Crew Pack, it feels like Call of Duty is being deliberately used as the main reason to upgrade to Ultimate.
It’s no wonder the community reacted with cancellations—so many, in fact, that the Xbox website temporarily crashed under the load. The recent Xbox Game Pass price increase has clearly struck a nerve.
Where is Microsoft Headed?
Players have known for a long time that the price for Game Pass would eventually go up. After all, the value for money was an incredibly good deal.
However, a 50 percent jump is a drastic increase that many find unacceptable. Combined with the lack of a day-one release for one of the biggest shooter franchises, this may be the final straw that makes the barrel overflow for many players.
At least the other price increases are far less extreme.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s strategy is clear: leverage the massive popularity of Call of Duty to push users toward its most expensive subscription tier. While a price increase was expected, the sheer size of the hike for the Ultimate tier, coupled with walling off a flagship title, has left a sour taste in the community’s mouth. The question now is whether the allure of Call of Duty is strong enough to make players accept the new luxury price tag.
Related: Xbox Game Pass Price Hike Sparks Cancellation Frenzy
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Ultimate tier now costs €26.99 per month, which is a 50% increase from its previous price.
No. To play new Call of Duty titles on day one through Game Pass, you must have the Ultimate subscription.
While Microsoft hasn’t given a single official reason, the move appears to be a strategy to increase revenue and push players toward the higher-priced Ultimate tier by making highly anticipated games like Call of Duty exclusive to it.
