Xbox Game Pass has been the crown jewel of Microsoft’s gaming world, but things are shaking up behind the scenes. Asha Sharma, the new head of Microsoft Gaming, is still deciding what the future holds for the subscription service. That includes some big questions, like whether new Call of Duty games will be part of Game Pass on day one.
Game Pass Pricing Concerns Push Microsoft Toward New Tier Options
Back in October 2025, Microsoft raised prices across all Game Pass plans, saying players were getting more value and better games. But now, just months later and with new leadership, Microsoft itself seems unsure about where Game Pass is headed. Sharma recently shared that Game Pass has become too pricey, and the company is exploring new options to fix that.
One idea on the table is creating a Game Pass tier that only includes Microsoft’s own first-party games. This could mean a cheaper plan that focuses on exclusive titles from Xbox-owned studios. It’s not set in stone yet, but it shows Microsoft is looking for ways to make the service feel worth the cost again.
Call of Duty Day-One Releases on Game Pass Face Uncertainty
Here’s where things get really interesting. Call of Duty has been a major draw for Game Pass subscribers, usually dropping on the service the same day it launches. But Sharma is reportedly debating whether future Call of Duty games should continue this trend.
Removing Call of Duty from day-one Game Pass would be a huge shift. It might make Xbox’s subscription less appealing, especially since Call of Duty is one of the biggest franchises out there. Some think if Microsoft goes this route, they’d need to lower Game Pass Ultimate’s price significantly to keep subscribers happy.
Microsoft’s Game Pass Strategy Remains in Transition Under New Leadership
Right now, there isn’t a clear plan for Game Pass. The company is still weighing ideas and hasn’t made any firm decisions. Even with Project Helix on the horizon, which aims to improve Xbox’s gaming ecosystem, how Game Pass fits into that vision is still a work in progress.
For gamers, this means the Game Pass you know today might look very different in a year. Whether that’s better or worse depends on what Microsoft decides. What’s clear is that Asha Sharma has a big challenge ahead: fixing a subscription service that’s lost some of its original shine without scaring off the players who made it popular.
We’ll keep an eye on this story as it develops, but for now, the Game Pass future is anyone’s guess.
