Microsoft has confirmed the arrival of Call of Duty Black Ops 6 day-one on Xbox Game Pass. In a post on Xbox Wire, the tech giant pointed fans to its Xbox Games Showcase event, as well as the Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Direct on June 9, 2024, at 10 AM PT. During this event, Microsoft will share more details about the game, providing a first in-depth look at gameplay “in this dark new chapter” of the Black Ops series.
Call of Duty Black Ops 6 reveal: ‘The Truth Lies’ trailer
Microsoft made the announcement alongside the release of a live-action reveal trailer called ‘The Truth Lies’. The trailer features world leaders such as Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, George H. W. Bush, Colin Powell, and Saddam Hussein delivering cryptic speeches. Black Ops 6 is reported to be set during the events of the Gulf War in the early ’90s.
Black Ops 6 and Game Pass: A strategic move
News of Black Ops 6’s release into Game Pass doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Xbox president Sarah Bond recently indicated that all Microsoft games, including those developed by the recently acquired Activision, would launch straight into Game Pass. This move aligns with Microsoft’s strategy to bolster Game Pass’s appeal and subscriber base.
Microsoft has faced tough questions around the potential cannibalization effect of Game Pass, particularly on games that launch on the service day-one. While Xbox executives have insisted that sales can be boosted by a game’s presence on Game Pass, some publishers remain unconvinced. Former Activision boss Bobby Kotick, for example, was always against putting Call of Duty into subscription services. Unlike Microsoft, console rival Sony does not release its new exclusives straight into its subscription service.
In an interview with IGN last year, Xbox boss Phil Spencer was asked how he’d handle his and Kotick’s different ideologies after the deal to buy Activision Blizzard closed. “Well, there’s a different person making the decisions,” Spencer laughed. New Call of Duty games sell for $70 and usually shift around 25 million copies, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. By releasing this year’s Call of Duty straight into Game Pass, Microsoft potentially risks cannibalizing those sales. However, Activision will also launch Call of Duty across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC as a game that can be bought outright.
The impact on Game Pass and Microsoft’s strategy
With Game Pass subscriber numbers failing to grow meaningfully, Microsoft is under pressure to attract new customers. Adding a mainline Call of Duty game at launch is a significant move to achieve this. The Verge has reported that Microsoft is considering raising the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate again, indicating the company’s efforts to balance revenue and subscriber growth.
Microsoft is also in the process of cutting 1,900 staff from its gaming business. Earlier this month, the company shocked the video game world by announcing the closure of Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks and Redfall developer Arkane Austin. There are fears that more cuts are to come.
Microsoft is yet to announce a release date, pricing, or platforms for Black Ops 6, but it will reportedly launch across PC, last-gen, and current-gen consoles. This strategic move to include Black Ops 6 on Game Pass from day one demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to enhancing its subscription service and expanding its user base, despite the associated risks.
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