Microsoft is reportedly planning to release the next instalment of the Call of Duty/ COD video game on its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, marking a departure from its longstanding practice of selling the title as a standalone product.
The announcement is anticipated to take place at the company’s annual Xbox showcase on June 9, reports Reuters, citing sources.
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Late last year, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, valued at $69 billion, was finalised. This deal brought Call of Duty under the Microsoft umbrella.
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The first-person shooter video game is one of the most successful entertainment properties, having generated over $30 billion in lifetime revenue.
Activision has regularly released new editions of the game annually, typically priced around $70 each in recent years. This development follows closely after Xbox President Sarah Bond announced during a conference that the company intends to debut all first-party Xbox games on Game Pass on their launch day.
Microsoft oversees Game Pass, a subscription service granting access to games from Xbox and various other developers for a fee.
In recent years, Microsoft has aggressively expanded its Netflix-style game subscription services as part of its strategy to challenge the dominance of Sony’s PlayStation consoles.
Microsoft disclosed in February that Game Pass had reached 34 million subscribers, up from the 25 million reported in 2022. Analysts believe that launching “Call of Duty” on Game Pass—a franchise with a substantial and dedicated fan base—could attract more subscribers. However, it may also impact the overall sales revenue generated by the title.
According to industry tracker Circana, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III”, released in November 2023, currently ranks as the second-best selling game of the year. It trails behind Sony’s “Helldivers II”.
