Xbox Game Pass Prices Rise, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Buzz

Microsoft is set to raise the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $16.99 to $19.99 per month, effective July 10, 2024, for new subscribers and September 12, 2024, for existing ones. Additionally, a new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier at $14.99 will replace the existing $10.99 Console tier but will not include day one releases or perks such as EA Play and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Fans are particularly upset about these changes as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was previously confirmed as a day one title for Game Pass, and the new pricing and tiers mean more money for fewer benefits.

Fans are upset because the Xbox Game Pass price increase and new tier structure remove key benefits such as day one releases, EA Play, and Xbox Cloud Gaming from the cheaper subscriptions. This is particularly frustrating with the upcoming release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which was expected to be available on the more affordable tiers.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the latest installment in the acclaimed Call of Duty franchise, developed by Treyarch and published by Activision. As part of Microsoft's recent $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the game was confirmed for Xbox Game Pass, making it a highly anticipated addition to the library. However, the recent price hikes and removal of day one access from more affordable tiers have dampened the excitement among fans.