Microsoft has made a groundbreaking announcement in the world of video game launches by revealing that the highly anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be available immediately to subscribers of its Game Pass service. This move breaks the traditional model of gamers having to pay a significant upfront cost to purchase new releases, as they can now opt for a much smaller monthly subscription instead.
The decision to offer such a major title like Call of Duty on Game Pass on launch day is a significant one for Microsoft and the gaming industry as a whole. With over 425 million lifetime sales, Call of Duty is one of the best-selling game series in history, making it a key asset for developer Activision Blizzard, which Microsoft acquired for a staggering $69 billion in 2023.
Christopher Dring, head of GamesIndustry.biz, described Microsoft’s move as a “big test for subscription,” noting that if a game like Call of Duty can’t attract new subscribers, then perhaps nothing will. Game Pass, often compared to Sony’s PlayStation Plus service as a “Netflix for games,” allows players to access a library of games for a monthly fee, with the added benefit of being able to download the games for offline play.
However, one key detail that remains unclear is whether gamers will be able to stream the new Call of Duty game or if they will be required to download it. This uncertainty stems from Microsoft’s agreement with French game publisher Ubisoft, which was made to address regulatory concerns following the acquisition of Activision. This agreement may impact the availability of cloud streaming for the game at launch and could potentially lead to its availability on rival platforms in the future.
Overall, Microsoft’s decision to offer Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Game Pass represents a bold move that could reshape the way major game releases are distributed and consumed in the future. It will be interesting to see how this gamble pays off and whether it leads to a significant increase in Game Pass subscribers.
