Week in Gaming News: April 26 - May 1, 2026
Game Pass just got a 23% price cut, but there's a catch. PS Plus is stacking May with a critically acclaimed Metroidvania and a new Soulslike. And one of gaming's longest-running RPG studios is gone. Here's what happened.
The Big Stories
Game Pass Ultimate Drops to $22.99 — But Call of Duty Loses Day-One Access
Xbox slashed Game Pass prices on April 21, and it's a significant move. Game Pass Ultimate dropped from $29.99 to $22.99 per month (a 23% cut), while PC Game Pass fell from $16.49 to $13.99. The cut claws back about 70% of the controversial October 2025 hike that took Ultimate from $19.99 to $29.99.
Xbox's new gaming lead Asha Sharma framed it as a direct response to subscriber feedback. The official line: "This change responds to a lot of feedback we've gotten so far. We'll continue to listen and learn."
Here's the trade-off. Future Call of Duty titles won't launch day one on Game Pass anymore. New entries will land roughly a year after release (typically the following holiday season). Existing titles, including Black Ops 7, stay in the library. The math is straightforward: a new CoD sells at $69.99 across platforms, and day-one inclusion was likely a major driver behind the price hikes in the first place.
| Plan | Old Price | New Price | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Pass Ultimate | $29.99/mo | $22.99/mo | $7.00/mo (23%) |
| PC Game Pass | $16.49/mo | $13.99/mo | $2.50/mo (15%) |
Why it matters: If you don't play Call of Duty, this is a straight win. You're getting the same library for less money. If you do play CoD, you'll need to buy it separately at $69.99 or wait about 12 months. At $22.99, Game Pass Ultimate is now much closer to PS Plus Premium's $17.99 price point, making the subscription wars genuinely competitive again.
PS Plus Essential May 2026: EA Sports FC 26, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, Nine Sols
Sony revealed the PS Plus Essential lineup for May, and it's a strong month. Three games drop on May 5, covering sports, Soulslike, and Metroidvania genres. Last day to grab the April games (Lords of the Fallen, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream) is May 4.
| Game | Platforms | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| EA Sports FC 26 | PS5, PS4 | Sports (football/soccer) |
| Wuchang: Fallen Feathers | PS5 only | Soulslike action RPG |
| Nine Sols | PS5, PS4 | 2D action-platformer / Metroidvania |
EA Sports FC 26 brings the usual package: 20,000+ players, 750+ clubs, 120+ stadiums, plus an exclusive Icons Pack for PS Plus members. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a Soulslike set during China's Ming Dynasty where you play as a pirate warrior fighting through a world of supernatural mutations. Nine Sols is the headliner for anyone who values critical acclaim. Push Square called it "the best Metroidvania on the market." It features hand-drawn art and Sekiro-inspired deflection combat.
Why it matters: Three genuinely different games that each hold their own. Nine Sols alone would justify the subscription for platformer fans. Two Soulslike-adjacent games in one month give action RPG fans plenty to chew on.
Subnautica 2 Hits Early Access May 14 — Day One on Game Pass
Subnautica 2 launches May 14 in Early Access on PC (Steam, Epic, Microsoft Store) and Xbox Series X|S. It's available day one on Game Pass via Game Preview. If you're buying outright, it's $29.99. No PS5 version has been confirmed.
The big addition this time: optional four-player co-op. You can bring up to three friends into the alien ocean with you, or play solo like the original. The game is set on a new alien ocean world with expanded survival systems. Developer Unknown Worlds expects Early Access to last 2-3 years.
Why it matters: This is a strong counterpoint to the "Game Pass lost CoD" narrative. Major day-one titles are still hitting the service. For subscribers, that's a $29.99 game at no extra cost, and co-op multiplayer is a massive addition for a series that's been single-player only until now.
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred Expansion Launches
Diablo IV's second major expansion, Lord of Hatred, launched April 28 across PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Early reviews are "generally favorable" on Metacritic.
The expansion adds the Greek-inspired region of Skovos, two new classes (Paladin and Warlock), the returning Horadric Cube for gear crafting, and overhauled endgame activities. The story follows Mephisto's corruption spreading across Sanctuary.
Why it matters: This is a paid expansion, not included in any subscription service. If you already own Diablo IV and bounced off, the two new classes and revamped endgame might be enough to pull you back. If you're on the fence, it's worth waiting for more community feedback on the endgame before spending.
Spiders Studio Shuts Down After 18 Years
Spiders, the studio behind GreedFall and Steelrising, was liquidated on April 29. The Paris-based RPG developer operated for nearly 18 years before its parent publisher Nacon collapsed under mounting debt in late February 2026.
A French court gave Spiders roughly eight weeks to find a buyer or restructuring plan. Neither happened. The timing is brutal: GreedFall: The Dying World left early access in March to a cold reception. Six weeks later, the studio no longer exists. Nacon says it will handle remaining DLC for The Dying World, but the game's long-term future is uncertain. Other Nacon-owned studios are also at risk.
Why it matters: Another mid-tier studio gone. Spiders filled a niche that AAA publishers ignore: mid-budget RPGs with ambition that punched above their weight. If you were eyeing GreedFall: The Dying World, know that development beyond committed DLC is unlikely.
Quick Hits
- Games leaving PS Plus Extra/Premium May 19: Control: Ultimate Edition, Sand Land, Soul Hackers 2, Mortal Shell, MotoGP 25, and both Dark Pictures Anthology titles (Man of Medan, Little Hope). If you haven't played Control yet, don't sleep on it.
- Nintendo Switch 2 digital vs. physical pricing kicks in this month. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book (May 21) will be the first affected title: $59.99 digital vs. $69.99 physical. Nintendo says it's not raising physical prices but lowering digital to reflect distribution costs.
- Full Game Pass May 2026 lineup announced. Highlights beyond Subnautica 2 include Final Fantasy V (May 5), Mixtape (May 7), Forza Horizon 6 (May 19), and Echo Generation 2 (May 27). More titles expected in a second-wave announcement.
- Switch 2 May releases include Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (May 12) and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book (May 21). Stray also arrives May 28.
What to Watch Next Week
- Subnautica 2 Early Access launch — May 14, day one on Game Pass
- Forza Horizon 6 Premium Edition Early Access — May 15 (standard launch May 19, day one on Game Pass)
- PS Plus Extra/Premium catalog updates — New additions typically announced mid-month
- Game Pass second-wave announcement — Microsoft usually reveals additional mid-month titles
- Yoshi and the Mysterious Book launch — May 21, the first game under Nintendo's new digital pricing split
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News compiled May 1, 2026.