Microsoft is set to release the next installment of the hugely successful “Call of Duty” video game as part of its subscription service, marking a departure from its previous practice of selling the title separately. The announcement is expected to be made during Microsoft’s annual Xbox showcase on June 9th. Microsoft has not responded to requests for comment.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Microsoft’s decision was prompted by its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in a $69 billion deal late last year. “Call of Duty” has been one of Activision’s most successful franchises, generating over $30 billion in revenue over the years. The game has traditionally been released annually with a price tag of around $70.
This move comes shortly after Xbox President Sarah Bond announced that all first-party Xbox games will be launching on Game Pass on their release dates. Game Pass is a subscription service that provides access to games from Xbox and other developers for a fee. Microsoft has been actively expanding its game subscription services in order to compete with Sony’s PlayStation consoles.
As of February, Game Pass had 34 million subscribers, up significantly from the 25 million reported in 2022. Analysts believe that adding “Call of Duty” to Game Pass could attract even more subscribers but may also impact the game’s overall sales. “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III”, which was released in November 2023, is currently the second-best selling game of the year behind Sony’s “Helldivers II”.