Microsoft Insists It Won't Lock Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Behind a New Game Pass Tier at Launch
Microsoft Insists It Won't Lock Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Behind a New Game Pass Tier at Launch
Microsoft's Game Pass Strategy with Call of Duty Black Ops 6
Day-One Availability on All Tiers
Microsoft has confirmed that Call of Duty Black Ops 6 will be available on all existing Game Pass tiers upon its launch, countering rumors of a new, pricier tier exclusive for day-one releases.
Potential Game Pass Changes
While confirming the game's availability, Microsoft did not dismiss the possibility of future price hikes or modifications to Game Pass tiers, which could include ads or price increases.
Impact on Sales and Subscription Growth
Releasing Black Ops 6 on Game Pass might impact traditional sales but is seen as a strategy to boost the subscription numbers, which have not been growing significantly.
What specific changes is Microsoft considering for Game Pass to accommodate the launch of Call of Duty Black Ops 6?
Microsoft has confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be available on Xbox Game Pass for all existing tiers upon its launch. This means that subscribers to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass for Console will be able to play the game on day one. However, the statement from Microsoft does not rule out potential changes to the pricing or structure of the existing tiers.
While Microsoft has not provided specific details on any changes they are considering for Game Pass, there has been speculation that they might introduce a new, more expensive tier for day-one releases or implement ads in the service. Additionally, there is the possibility of price increases for the current tiers. However, no official announcements have been made regarding these potential changes.
It is worth noting that former Activision boss Bobby Kotick was against putting Call of Duty into subscription services, and there are concerns about the potential cannibalization effect of Game Pass on game sales. Nevertheless, Microsoft is under pressure to attract new customers to Game Pass, and adding a mainline Call of Duty game at launch will likely help with that.
What are the potential risks of releasing Call of Duty Black Ops 6 directly into Game Pass in terms of sales cannibalization?
Releasing Call of Duty Black Ops 6 directly into Game Pass could potentially cannibalize sales of the game. New Call of Duty games usually sell for $70 and shift around 25 million copies, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. By releasing the game straight into Game Pass, Microsoft risks reducing the number of players who would purchase the game outright, potentially leading to lower overall revenue for Activision. However, it is important to note that Activision will also launch Call of Duty across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC as a game that can be bought outright, which may mitigate some of these potential risks.