Windows Central Insider
Microsoft's Xbox division is responsible for a variety of gaming innovations we now take for granted. Direct-to-digital, at home cloud-based gaming multiplayer, achievements, among other things — but its subscription services are what gave Xbox it's biggest business wins.
We had Xbox Live in the past, but it has since evolved into Xbox Game Pass, a Netflix-like all-you-can-eat gaming subscription service, officially launched in 2017. The service has long been called the "best deal in gaming," although price hikes and restructures have tarnished its image throughout 2025, as analysts wonder if the deal was actually simply too good to be true.
Essential Xbox Game Pass reading
Latest about Xbox Game Pass
A quartet of games are free to play on Xbox — but only this weekend
Xbox From April 23 to April 26, 2026, Xbox players can enjoy a collection of games via Xbox Free Play Days.
Xbox has a new Game Pass tier in testing: "Starter Edition"
Xbox Ahead of an official announcement, the code for Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming suggests that a new "Starter Edition" may be imminent for reveal.
Everything announced for Xbox and PC at the ID@Xbox and IGN April 2026 Showcase
Xbox Couldn't catch the ID@Xbox and IGN April 2026 Showcase live? No worries — we've got a full overview of everything announced right here.
Microsoft confirms Xbox is once again looking into acquisitions, plans for the future detailed
Xbox In a new memo penned by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and its CCO Matt Booty, Microsoft details its vision and plans for the future of the Xbox brand
Microsoft has no clue about what to do with Call of Duty
Gaming Microsoft is removing Call of Duty from Game Pass at the absolute worst time with GTA 6 looming large, but it also shows the company still doesn't know what to do with its biggest gaming franchise.
Microsoft says Xbox Game Pass is getting more old Call of Duty games in 2026
Call of Duty Following Xbox's Game Pass price cut and the loss of Call of Duty on day one, it's said more games in the series are coming to the service this year.
The dev of Xbox Game Pass hit Vampire Survivors is working on 15 projects, opening 2 new studios
Gaming Poncle, the developer behind the acclaimed Xbox Game Pass hit Vampire Survivors, is working on 15 projects and expanding with two new studios.
Baldur's Gate 3 director reacts to Xbox Game Pass removing Call of Duty from day one access
Xbox Due to Microsoft's new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price drop, Call of Duty games won't come to it day one anymore — something that may benefit the series.
Xbox Game Pass price gets a MASSIVE price cut — Call of Duty 2026 will NOT be included
Xbox After last year's wildly unpopular 50% price hike, Microsoft has reverted a ton of it. Fortnite Crew, Ubisoft Classics will remain, previous Call of Duty games will too, but this year's will be a retail-only affair. What's going on?
