The giant cuts subscription prices. The subscription is PLN 30 cheaper, but there is a catch
2026-04-22 19:00
publication
2026-04-22 19:00
At a time when almost every subscription service is becoming more expensive, Microsoft has decided to move against the grain. The Redmond giant has just announced a price reduction for the Game Pass subscription, which at first glance looks like a great celebration for thrifty gamers. However, the devil is in the details of the new offer.
A surprising decision by Microsoft
Microsoft has officially confirmed that the prices of selected variants of the Game Pass service are being reduced. This is a rare move in times of widespread inflation of digital services, where Netflix and Disney+ regularly raise rates. The new price list is intended to attract a crowd of thrifty users to the Xbox ecosystem who have previously been hesitant to make a permanent financial commitment.
The changes apply to the Ultimate and PC versions, the prices of which have been reduced accordingly from PLN 115 to PLN 85 and from PLN 62 to PLN 54.
A new era of subscriptions?
The reduction applies primarily to plans that have been moderately popular so far. In this way, Microsoft wants to “clean up” its offer and encourage new customers to make regular payments. Unfortunately, the joy of lower bills is marred by the fact that cheap access will no longer mean access to everything.
What is Game Pass?
Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service from Microsoft that, for a fixed monthly fee, gives you access to a library of over 400 games without having to purchase them yourself. It works on the principle of “Netflix for gamers” – as long as you pay for the subscription, you can freely download and watch both niche productions and the biggest global hits (including new products from Microsoft on the day of their premiere). The service is available on Xbox consoles, PCs and in the cloud, which allows you to run games even on a smartphone or TV.
The key change is the approach to high-profile premieres, the so-called “Day One” games. In the new balance of power, the cheapest subscription variants may be deprived of the biggest hits on the day of their debut. To play the latest productions straight away, users will still have to use the most expensive Ultimate variant.
The biggest blow was aimed at Call of Duty fans. Although the subscription is cheaper, access to the latest installment of the series via subscription will require upgrading to the highest and most expensive “Ultimate” plan. For many people who were counting on cheap Activision games, this paradoxically means higher monthly expenses than before.
Game Pass Ultimate has become too expensive for too many players. Starting today, we're dropping the price from $29.99 to $22.99/month.
Future Call of Duty titles will no longer join Game Pass Ultimate on day one. They will join this tier the following holiday after launch (about…— Asha (@asha_shar) April 21, 2026
Analysts point out that Microsoft is “come to its senses” and is trying to save the service's profitability. Instead of offering a full library to everyone for a low price, the company focuses on segmentation. This strategy resembles the moves of streaming giants such as Netflix or Disney+, which introduce cheaper packages, but with advertisements or a smaller library. For the Polish consumer, this means the need to make a choice: pay less and wait for new products, or stay at a high rate and keep the existing privileges. One thing is certain – the subscription market has just entered a new, less predictable phase.
