Microsoft has confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one.
In a post on Xbox Wire, Microsoft invited fans to its Xbox Games Showcase event and the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct on June 9, 2024, at 10 AM PT. During this event, more details about the game will be shared, including an in-depth look at gameplay in what is described as a “dark new chapter” of the Black Ops series.
Black Ops 6 will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one.
The announcement was accompanied by a live-action reveal trailer titled ‘The Truth Lies.’ The trailer features world leaders like Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, George H. W. Bush, Colin Powell, and Saddam Hussein delivering cryptic speeches. Black Ops 6 is set during the Gulf War in the early ’90s.
Screenshots from the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Live Action Reveal Trailer
The news of Black Ops 6 launching on Game Pass was not unexpected. Xbox president Sarah Bond recently mentioned that all Microsoft games, including those from the recently acquired Activision, would be available on Game Pass at launch.
Microsoft has faced scrutiny over the potential impact of Game Pass on game sales, especially for titles launching on the service from day one. Xbox executives claim that Game Pass can boost a game’s sales, but some publishers remain skeptical. For instance, former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick always opposed putting Call of Duty on subscription services. Unlike Microsoft, Sony does not release its new exclusives directly to its subscription service.
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In an interview with IGN last year, Xbox head Phil Spencer was asked how he would reconcile his and Kotick’s differing views post-Activision acquisition. “Well, there’s a different person making the decisions,” Spencer laughed.
New Call of Duty games sell for $70 and move around 25 million copies, generating significant revenue. Microsoft risks cannibalizing those sales by launching this year’s Call of Duty on Game Pass. Activision will still release Call of Duty across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC as a purchasable game. However, with Game Pass subscriber growth stagnating, Microsoft is pressured to attract new subscribers. Adding a primary Call of Duty game at launch could help with that. The Verge has reported that Microsoft is considering another Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price increase.
Microsoft is currently cutting 1,900 staff from its gaming division. Earlier this month, the company announced the closure of Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks and Redfall developer Arkane Austin, causing concerns about further layoffs.
Microsoft has yet to announce a release date, pricing, or platforms for Black Ops 6, but it is expected to launch on PC, last-gen, and current-gen consoles.
