Microsoft announced a significant reduction in prices for its main game subscription services this Tuesday. Game Pass Ultimate, which offers access to console, PC and cloud gaming, drops from $29.99 to $22.99 monthly. Game Pass PC goes from $16.49 to $13.99 per month. The new values come into force immediately for all users, representing drops of 23% and 15% respectively in the two plans.
Resposta to criticism about accessibility and price
The adjustment comes just a few months after a previous surge that took Ultimate close to $30, sparking negative reactions from the community. Microsoft internally recognized that the price was above what many players were able to afford on a regular basis. Usuários with an active subscription will receive the new amount in the next automatic billing. The company cited direct feedback from players from different profiles and regions as the main motivation for the change.
More on this story: Microsoft reduces Game Pass Ultimate and PC by up to 23% starting Tuesday
The company released the details in an official statement on Xbox Wire. Preços may vary depending on region and local currency, with conversions and taxes differing by location. Microsoft has not yet released the exact values in reais for Brasil in this initial communication, leaving this information for a later update.
Mudança on release strategy Call of Duty
Futuros titles from the Call of Duty franchise no longer reach Game Pass on launch day. The new games will only enter the catalog during the following year’s holiday season, approximately 12 months after their official launch. Jogos of the series already present in the library continues to be normally available to subscribers. The latest title remains on sale for US$69.99 for those who want to play at its debut.
- Game Pass Ultimate Reduces from $29.99 to $22.99 Monthly (Down 23%)
- PC Game Pass reduced from $16.49 to $13.99 monthly (down 15%)
- Vigência from April 21, 2026
- Call of Duty will hit the service 12 months after launch
- Outros first-party releases continue with normal inclusion
Nova leadership repositions gaming strategy
Asha Sharma took over Microsoft’s gaming division in February, replacing Phil Spencer. Relatos indicate that the executive internally assessed the price of Game Pass as a significant barrier for many consumers. The gaming segment represented around 7% of Microsoft’s total revenue in the most recent quarter. Vendas hardware sales fell 32% in the period, while content and services revenue fell below the company’s internal projections.
Microsoft completed the acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023 for US$75.4 billion, significantly expanding the available catalog. Game Pass Ultimate offers a library of hundreds of titles for download and cloud streaming, as well as online multiplayer and additional benefits like EA Play in certain situations.
Impacto in subscription platform competition
The cut comes in the context of fierce competition with PlayStation Plus and other cloud platforms. Analistas monitors whether the measure influences retention of existing subscribers and attracts new users. Microsoft reported 34 million Game Pass subscribers in 2024 data, a number that could be positively impacted by this reduction. The company did not release updated numbers this Tuesday, leaving it for future communication.
The reduction may attract new subscribers or encourage users who canceled after the last price adjustment. Microsoft stated that they heard feedback from players from different profiles and regions before making this decision. The stated objective is to make the subscription more accessible while maintaining the core value proposition of the service. The company must monitor reception of the measure in the coming weeks to assess the real impact on subscriber numbers.