Microsoft has cut the price of two Xbox Game Pass tiers in South Africa, offering some relief to local gamers after sharp increases last year.
According to MyBroadband, the company announced on Tuesday, 22 April 2026, that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will drop by R110 per month, while PC Game Pass will fall by R40 per month. The change forms part of a wider global pricing adjustment.
New Game Pass Prices in South Africa
MyBroadband reported that, as of 22 April 2026, South African pricing for the four Game Pass tiers is as follows:
- Xbox Game Pass Essential: R139 per month, with the first month at R19
- Xbox Game Pass Premium: R199 per month, with the first 14 days at R19
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: R239 per month
- Xbox Game Pass PC: R209 per month
The Essential and Premium tiers remain unchanged after the October 2025 increases.
MyBroadband said Essential, previously known as Game Pass Core, rose from R79 to R139 per month last year. Premium, formerly called Standard, increased from R149 to R199 per month.
Call of Duty Games will No Longer Launch on Game Pass
The price cut comes with a major catch.
According to MyBroadband, upcoming Call of Duty titles will no longer be included in Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass on launch day. Instead, those games will be sold separately at launch and will only arrive on Game Pass a year later.
It is reported that Microsoft’s shift follows concerns over the financial impact of putting Call of Duty on the service as a day-one title.
Microsoft Changes Course on Gaming Strategy
MyBroadband reported that the new pricing direction was driven by Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma, who took over in February 2026.
In a post quoted by the publication, Sharma said Game Pass Ultimate had become too expensive for too many players. She added that Microsoft would continue refining the service based on player feedback.
The company also said it was still trying to find a model that works across different regions and player preferences.
For South African gamers, the latest cut brings down the cost of the top-end subscriptions. But with Call of Duty no longer arriving on day one, the cheaper price may still come with less value for some players.
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