I have an Xbox Series X and have always gamed offline, single-player campaigns. I don't have much Call Of Duty experience, but I recently finished the campaigns to Modern Warfare (2019) and WW2 (2017), of which I especially enjoyed WW2.

I would love to try playing online because I have heard so much about how great an experience it can be, but I have no idea where to start. I am only a casual gamer and I'm a little hesitant I guess because I've heard about how "hardcore" and "toxic" some of the players can be.

Any advice for a first-time online player? Is there a particular COD which is most popular/fun/best for a beginner? Is it true that with Xbox I have to pay 8.99€ per month for an Xbox Live Gold pass just to play? Is everyone really paying this every month to play? Or is there a way around it or a cheaper alternative?

Any advice would be most appreciated, thanks