Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma told Xbox employees in a leaked internal memo — obtained and reported by The Verge on April 13-14, 2026 — that Xbox Game Pass “has become too expensive for players” and needs “a better value equation.” Sharma said short-term fixes are required to restore value and that the service will be evolved into “a more flexible system” over time; she did not give pricing details or a timeline. The comments follow major price increases last year that raised top-tier Game Pass prices by roughly 40–50 percent to around $30 per month in many markets. Reports and analysts point to Microsoft’s decision to add Call of Duty to Game Pass in 2024 as a key factor behind rising costs and internal debate; outlets say Microsoft is weighing options including lower-cost or ad-supported tiers, cloud-only plans, region-adjusted pricing or removing certain high-profile franchises from the subscription. Sharma, who took over the Xbox role earlier this year, plans further employee discussions next week. Microsoft has not announced any immediate changes or provided an official comment on the leaked memo.

At the BAFTA Games Awards on April 17, 2026, held at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was named Best Game. The French indie picked up three trophies — Best Game, Debut Game and Performer in a Leading Role for Jennifer English — from 12 nominations, adding to an already extensive awards season for the title. Superhero adventure Dispatch matched Clair Obscur with three wins (Animation, Audio Achievement and Supporting Performer for Jeffrey Wright). Ghost of Yōtei secured Music and Technical Achievement, while Death Stranding 2 won Artistic Achievement. Other category winners included Atomfall (British Game), No Man’s Sky (Evolving Game), Blue Prince (Game Design), Arc Raiders (Multiplayer), Lego Party! (Family), Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Narrative), Despelote (Game Beyond Entertainment) and South of Midnight (New IP). BAFTA presented its fellowship to Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen. The ceremony underscored the prominence of independent studios and narrative-driven games in this awards season.

Developer 4A Games and publisher Deep Silver unveiled Metro 2039 during an Xbox First Look presentation, confirming a winter release window for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The fourth mainline Metro title returns the series to the claustrophobic Moscow Metro with a new, fully voiced protagonist called “The Stranger,” and a much darker tone that foregrounds psychological horror, propaganda and a unified fascist faction called the Novoreich led by a figure titled Hunter. Creative work involved Metro author Dmitry Glukhovsky and the studio says the game was reshaped by real-world events — notably Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine — which influenced story themes about the costs of silence, tyranny and freedom. 4A highlighted technical progress in its proprietary 4A Engine (improved ray tracing and 60fps footage) and said the team, still largely Ukrainian though dispersed across many countries, continued development amid power outages and wartime disruptions. Metro 2039 will be available on Steam, the Microsoft Store, the Epic Games Store, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles this winter.

Sony has opened preorders for a limited-edition 007 First Light DualSense wireless controller tied to IO Interactive’s upcoming game, 007 First Light. Announced ahead of the game’s May 27, 2026 release, the gold-finish controller features a 007-branded touchpad, barrel-inspired detailing, DualSense adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. Price points reported: $84.99 in the US and £74.99 in the UK. Retailers taking orders include PlayStation Direct, Target (which reportedly went live early), Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop and Walmart in the US, with Currys, Very, Argos and The Game Collection among UK outlets. Preorders were promoted across outlets on April 16–17, 2026. The controller coincides with multiple editions of the game, including a Legacy edition that bundles physical collectibles; the game will release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Coverage from GameSpot, IGN and TechRadar notes the product is limited and likely to sell out quickly, reflecting strong collector demand for franchise-linked hardware.

Multiple gaming outlets reported on April 16–17 that a remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, titled Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced, is expected to launch on July 9, 2026. Insider Gaming says media and content creators were shown a roughly 30‑minute presentation of the project even though Ubisoft postponed a wider public reveal that had been expected around April 16. Reports describe the title as a ‘‘completely reworked’’ version of the 2013 game with new content and updates, and indicate the project is being positioned as a solo, character‑driven adventure rather than a role‑playing game. Leaks and regulatory listings have already surfaced in recent months, and outlets say merchandising — including an Edward Kenway figurine — is planned. Details such as confirmed platforms, full feature list and an official release announcement remain outstanding; Ubisoft has not publicly confirmed the July 9 date or the presentation details. Coverage notes the remake follows Ubisoft’s wider roadmap of revisiting older Assassin’s Creed entries and comes amid broader studio activity on multiple franchise projects.

Capcom has ordered a British YouTuber to remove more than 1,000 videos featuring adult-oriented mods for Resident Evil Requiem and other games, after the publisher’s legal team contacted the creator on April 16, 2026. Streamer GrizzoUK said Capcom demanded deletion of 1,005 videos showing characters in skimpy or altered outfits and warned of further action; YouTube briefly terminated the channel for alleged repeated violations of its sex and nudity policy before reinstating it after the videos were deleted. Capcom told the creator the mod content was “inconsistent” with its terms of service and relevant copyright and intellectual property laws, citing reputational risks. The takedown has depressed the channel’s views and prompted the creator to pivot to non-costume content such as weapon mods. The move follows earlier statements from Capcom expressing concern about mods that could affect game performance or company reputation. Resident Evil Requiem, one of 2026’s top-selling titles, recently added a photo mode, and the developer continues to publish new content for the franchise.