After Microsoft finally confirmed that the next Call of Duty would be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one, everything changed. After the company’s acquisition, this will be the second major Activision Blizzard title to join the service. The franchise usually sells well without using these services, making this strategy risky.
As a result, the gaming community as a whole anticipated an increase in the service’s price at some point, and that is exactly what happened. Yesterday, the company confirmed that this entire service would change its prices and add new ways to access content. The company plans to implement these changes shortly before the new game launches. Obviously, fans are not pleased with these increases.
The Price Change on Xbox Game Pass Finally Arrived Because Call of Duty Will Be Added to the Service
Microsoft, in general, is not having a stellar year, considering the number of layoffs and studio closures. However, it is still trying to attract more customers by adding Call of Duty to services like Xbox Game Pass.
This service will feature the first game in the franchise, making it available from day one. The company will finally begin to leverage the Activision Blizzard acquisition, finalized last year.
But not all news is beneficial for players; the company confirmed yesterday that all Game Pass prices would increase before the launch of this first-person action title. Undoubtedly, fans are dissatisfied with these price increases, even though the company had anticipated them for some time.
Xbots….
— 🅺🅴🆈 🅼🅰🅲 #🅶🆃7️⃣🏁#🅿🆂5️⃣ (@IsXboxStillLast) July 10, 2024
"We getting COD for $240 a year, enjoy paying full price ponies"😂😂 pic.twitter.com/GCtjiyg7WB
PlayStation users are laughing hard about this price increase.
Playstation is laughing hard right now 🤣
— holyfetzer (@holyfetzer) July 10, 2024
Is Call of Duty worth this price?
They love bending their behind 😭😭😭😭😭
— Griever Owns Justin PARODY (@GrieverLord) July 10, 2024
The community is not happy with this.
I’m crying pic.twitter.com/9oJwjcBvVN
— StoicxxGamer (@stoicmuscle) July 10, 2024
This increase will affect all regions and include changes to the various tiers of the service, as well as making adjustments to the day-one games.
Players Are Disappointed but Not Surprised
The price of the Ultimate subscription will rise from $16.99 to $19.99 per month; this is the highest tier and will continue to include all the benefits users have enjoyed so far without changes.
Xbox Game Pass Core users will go from paying $60 to $75 annually, which will include the ability to continue playing multiplayer on all console games. For PC users, the service will go from costing $10 to $12 per month.
Xbox also added a new tier called Game Pass Standard, which will cost $15 per month, including all the benefits of the Core plan, but with the peculiarity that players will not be able to access titles on day one.
Starting today, July 10, for new users, and on September 12 for those already active in the service, all these changes will take effect. It was only a matter of time before Microsoft did this to cover the cost of a game of Call of Duty’s caliber being on the service.
This clearly reignited the console war, with PlayStation fans criticizing Xbox users for paying the increased price for the service solely because it includes Call of Duty.
However, many Microsoft console fans knew this would happen and have no problem paying the increase, as they will continue to enjoy hundreds of games that are part of the service’s catalog. In the future, it will become increasingly unprofitable for players to continue paying these prices.
What are your thoughts on this price increase? Let us know in the comments!
