Microsoft has made a groundbreaking announcement that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be available on Xbox Game Pass on the day of its release. This move marks the first time a game of such caliber has debuted directly onto Game Pass, and it is a significant milestone for the popular subscription service.
The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal and has now been confirmed by Xbox on their official blog, Xbox Wire. According to reports, there was internal debate at Microsoft about whether bringing Black Ops 6 to Game Pass could potentially impact the traditional sales of the game, which typically sell millions of copies.
Interestingly, Black Ops 6 will also launch on the PS5 as part of Microsoft’s 10-year licensing agreement with Sony. This agreement was put in place to facilitate Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the parent company of Call of Duty. This means that Microsoft will have the opportunity to benefit from both traditional game sales and Game Pass subscriptions for Black Ops 6.
Microsoft has set ambitious goals for Game Pass, aiming to reach 100 million subscribers by 2030. However, as of earlier this year, they only had 34 million subscribers, indicating slower growth than expected. The addition of Black Ops 6 to Game Pass is seen as a strategic move to attract more subscribers and boost the service’s popularity.
In anticipation of the game’s release, Xbox has released a teaser for Black Ops 6, with a full reveal scheduled for June 9th during the Black Ops 6 Direct presentation. This presentation will follow the Xbox Games Showcase and is sure to generate excitement among fans of the popular franchise.
Overall, the inclusion of Black Ops 6 on Game Pass is a significant development for both Microsoft and Call of Duty fans. It will be interesting to see how this move impacts Game Pass subscriptions and whether it helps Microsoft achieve its ambitious growth targets in the coming years.
