Microsoft just dropped a bombshell for Xbox Game Pass members, and it’s all about the next Call of Duty. This year, if you’re itching to dive into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on launch day, you’ll have to buy it. Yup, no day-one Game Pass access this time!
Launching on October 23, 2026, across all major platforms, including the hotly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, Modern Warfare 4 will stick to the $70 price tag for its standard edition, with the Vault Edition going for $100. It’s a bold move by Microsoft’s new Xbox boss, Asha Sharma, who decided to hold off on adding new Call of Duty titles to Game Pass until a year after release. This shift is part of a broader strategy to revitalize the Xbox brand among hardcore fans. If you’re into first-party Xbox games, don’t worry—titles like State of Decay 3 and other popular games will still launch on Game Pass right away.
So, why the change? It’s all about revenue. Microsoft wants to ensure they’re capturing the maximum number of Call of Duty fans at launch, which is crucial amid ongoing debates about whether Game Pass day-one launches hurt game sales. Keep an eye on how this strategy unfolds and what it might mean for future Game Pass offerings. If you’re a Game Pass subscriber, it might be time to start considering which games you’ll need to purchase outright.
