Next Call of Duty will launch on Game Pass, Microsoft says

Despite rumors and reports to the contrary, the next Call of Duty game (tentatively titled Call of Duty Black Ops 6) will launch on Game Pass, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.

“Microsoft plans a major shakeup of its videogame sales strategy by releasing the coming installment of Call of Duty to its subscription service instead of the longtime, lucrative approach of only selling it a la carte,” the report states. This would mark the first time that a Call of Duty game has ever been launched on the Game Pass service, though it was a move that many were anticipating giving the finalization of the $68.7 billion merger/acquisition between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard.

Previously, Call of Duty games would usually sell upon release for $70, with 25 million copies being purchased on average per year. Conceivably, Microsoft believes that the revenue lost from those that buy Call of Duty for $70 can be replaced by users converting to Game Pass subscriptions and subsequently through the game’s microtransactions and DLC.

Call of Duty: MW3/Activision Blizzard

The next Call of Duty is rumored to feature longtime Black Ops series deuteragonist Frank Woods, a Marine veteran during the Korean War and Vietnam War, and a CIA and MACV-SOG special agent during the Cold War. Microsoft announced that game is scheduled to be released on October 25th, 2024.

Even in light of all the Xbox studio closures, with Redfall makers Arkane Austin being one of the most notable, big name games being released on launch day on Game Pass is a trend that isn’t likely to stop soon.

Big name games coming to Game Pass on Day One of release is a trend that isn’t likely to stop soon.

“We know our core users love Game Pass,” Xbox president Sarah Bond said in an interview with Bloomberg. “Game Pass is a gaming subscription, you get a whole portfolio of games, but importantly you get every single one of the games we build day one in Game Pass. And the quality and the breadth of those games has only been going up over time. And you’re going to see some more really big games going into Game Pass later this year.”

What do you think of the fact that the next Call of Duty will launch on Game Pass? Is the move more likely to make you purchase Game Pass? Let us know in the comments.