Microsoft took everyone by surprise by announcing a drop in the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimatejust a few months after the massive increase in 2025 which had set people cringing. The Xbox ecosystem showcase subscription then jumped from €17.99 to €26.99 per month in France, breaking the image of an “absolute good deal” built up for years.
On April 21, 2026, change of course: in the United States, Ultimate goes back to $22.99 per month, and the PC Game Pass is also revised downwards. But this good news is accompanied by a major counterpart, the end of day one for future Call of Dutyand all French subscribers should check their offer very concretely before rejoicing.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: what does the price drop announced by Microsoft really mean?
Officially, Microsoft drops Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 to $22.99 per month, or about €21.50 at the current exchange rate, a drop of just over 23%. PC Game Pass follows the same movement, from 16.49 dollars to 13.99 dollars, or approximately 13 €. In its press release, the firm recalls, however, that “prices may vary depending on the region”, which means that the French grid will not necessarily be a simple copy and paste converted into euros.
In France, the last overhaul of October 2025 introduced the formulas Xbox Game Pass Essential (€8.99/month), Xbox Game Pass Premium (€12.99/month) and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (€26.99/month). Even with a drop aligned with the United States, Ultimate would remain more expensive than two years ago. To make things easier, Microsoft highlights integrated bonuses, such as Ubisoft+ ClassicsTHE Fortnite CrewEA Play and points Microsoft Rewards.
Drop in Game Pass, end of Call of Duty day one: are you really winning?
This is where the real counterpart lies. From episode 2026, the new ones Call of Duty will no longer be released day one in Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. They will arrive about a year later, during the holiday season. Episodes already integrated into the service, such as *Black Ops 6* and *Black Ops 7*, remain in the catalog for the moment.
For a player who almost never touches Call of Dutythe price drop is therefore excellent news: the overall value of the subscription increases, for a monthly cost that decreases. On the other hand, those who took one or two months of Game Pass only for the new CoD will probably lose out. Between an even cheaper annual Ultimate and the full price purchase of a Call of Dutythe calculation no longer necessarily works in favor of the subscription. This is exactly what recognized Asha Sharma in an internal memo speaking of a Game Pass “becoming too expensive for players”.
Xbox Game Pass in France: how to check and adjust your offer now
First step: go to your Microsoft account, “Services and subscriptions” section. Check the precise name of your formula, the date of the next withdrawal and especially the amount indicated. It is this figure, and not the dollar prices seen in the articles, which says whether the reduction has already been applied to your French profile.
Then, compare this price to your actual usage. If you play a lot on console and cloud, with multiple games, Ultimate still makes sense. If you’re mostly on PC, PC Game Pass is often enough. Occasional or “CoD only” player? It may be smarter to go down to Premium or Essential and buy Call of Duty apart. Finally, keep an eye on prepaid card resellers: some are still showing €26.99 per month for Ultimate, while the direct Microsoft price could already be lower.