If you're an Xbox gamer in Canada, your monthly budget is about to get a little bit of breathing room. Microsoft just announced a surprising update to their Game Pass service. It's a good news/bad news situation, depending on what your favourite games to play are.
Game Pass Subscriptions are getting a price CUT!
When there's subscription fee news we've grown all too used to companies trying to squeeze very last penny out of us by announcing price hikes. But today, Xbox announced they're actually reducing the price of two major subscription options (but removing a beloved franchise).
The Good News: Your Subscription Just Got Cheaper
In a world where everything seems to be getting more expensive, Microsoft is actually lowering the price of its two most popular plans for Canadian gamers.
Here is the new breakdown for the monthly cost in Canada in 2026:
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: Dropping from $33.99 to $25.99/month.
- PC Game Pass: Dropping from $19.99 to $16.99/month.
This is a pretty substantial win. For Ultimate subscribers, that's an extra $8 a month back in your pocket (perhaps to reinvest in snacks for a good late night gaming session).
The Catch: The Call of Duty Waiting Game
While the lower price is great for your wallet, there is a major change to how one of the world's biggest gaming franchises will be handled.
Starting this year, future Call of Duty titles will no longer join Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass on the day they are released. Instead, Microsoft plans to add these new games to the service about a year later, typically during the following holiday season.
So, what does this actually mean for you?
- Day One Access is Gone: If you want to play the newest Call of Duty the second it launches to stay competitive with your friends, you'll likely have to buy the game separately.
- Existing Games Stay Put: If you're currently playing older Call of Duty titles already in the library, don't worry, those aren't going anywhere.
Is It Still a Good Deal?
Even with the change to Call of Duty, Game Pass Ultimate remains a solid choice for Xbox fans.
You still get access to hundreds of other games, online multiplayer (so you can still play that copy of CoD you bought), and cloud gaming, which lets you play high-end games on your phone or tablet without needing a console. Or if COD is a must-have, day-one buy, you've got $8 extra a month to start saving now, so when the next title does drop you can put the cash toward the new game.
What do you think about this trade-off? Are you happy to save $8 a month if it means buying Call of Duty separately, or was the "Day One" access the main reason you subscribed?
Reach out on Instagram to share your thoughts with me @drewkozubI'd love to hear if this changes your plans for the next big release!
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