New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma slashes Game Pass prices, but there is a catch

Microsoft is reducing the price of Xbox Game Pass. Yes, the price of a subscription is coming down for once, instead of being hiked. According to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, the Game Pass prices had become too high for many players. Sharma had previously stated that the company was going to recommit to “Xbox fans and players.”

The Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service that allows users to get access to as many as 500 games to play. Think of it like Netflix but for games. You can download and play any title available, but you don’t actually own a game via Game Pass.

On X, Asha Sharma wrote, “Game Pass Ultimate has become too expensive for too many players.”

Xbox Game Pass prices drop in India

The price of Game Pass Ultimate tier has dropped in the US and in India too. In India, the top tier plan will now cost you Rs 1,089 per month, down from the previous price of Rs 1,389 per month.

The PC-only tier is now priced in India at Rs 879 per month. It was previously available for Rs 939 per month.

Do note that the Game Pass Essential and Game Pass Premium tiers remain the same, at Rs 499 and Rs 699 respectively. Game Pass also gives you access to Xbox Cloud Gaming at no extra cost.

Xbox Game Pass is now cheaper, but with a catch

This reduction in prices of Xbox Game Pass comes at a cost. Asha announced that players will no longer get day one access to future Call of Duty titles via the Game Pass. She explained, “Future Call of Duty titles will no longer join Game Pass Ultimate on day one.”

Though the new Call of Duty games will be available a year after the launch. She added, “They will join this tier the following holiday after launch (about a year later).”

The Xbox CEO clarified that current Call of Duty titles will “remain available to Ultimate subscribers.” Apart from the change in Call of Duty games, the rest of the tier remains the same.

Asha Sharma is changing Xbox

Since being appointed as the Xbox CEO in February this year, Asha Sharma has made some sweeping changes in Microsoft’s gaming division. She put an end to the controversial “This is an Xbox” marketing campaign, and has claimed that she wants to cater back to Xbox fans and players.

Sharma has also teased Project Helix, the next-generation Xbox. She teased that it may be some sort of hybrid between a console and a PC. Asha said in March this year, “Project Helix will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games.”

Asha Sharma succeeded Phil Spencer as Microsoft’s gaming chief when Spencer retired from the company after spending 38 years at Redmond.