Microsoft has made a bold move on the Xbox Game Pass front, sparking major buzz in the gaming community. The new policy, effective as of April 21, 2026, brings a wallet-friendly price cut along with a strategic change that may disappoint some players.

Here’s the first big step from the new Xbox leadership under Asha Sharma:

Xbox Game Pass 2026 Price Update: Discount Arrives, But There’s a Catch!

After last year’s steep price hikes, Microsoft has responded to player feedback by significantly lowering Game Pass prices. However, this discount comes with a noteworthy trade-off, especially for FPS fans.

New Pricing Table (April 2026)

Big Change: No More Day-One Call of Duty!

The main reason for the lower prices is a shift in Microsoft’s content strategy.

• Upcoming Call of Duty Titles: New Call of Duty releases will no longer be added to the Game Pass library on launch day.

• Waiting Period: New CoD games will be included in the library about a year after release, during the following holiday season.

• Current Titles: Existing Call of Duty games in the library won’t be affected and will remain accessible.

Why Was This Decision Made?

New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma admitted in an official statement that Game Pass had become “too expensive” for players. To keep subscription prices reasonable, the company decided to move the costly “Day-One CoD” benefit to a separate purchase model (or a one-year wait) instead of including it in the subscription.

What Does This Mean for Players?

• Monthly Savings: Ultimate subscribers will save about $84 per year. That’s enough to buy each new Call of Duty title annually.

• Service Quality: Cloud Gaming, online multiplayer, and hundreds of other Day-One games (including other Xbox Global Studios titles) will still be available in the Ultimate package.