Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 May Draw 2.5-4 Million New Subscribers to Game Pass

The upcoming inclusion of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in Game Pass is expected to lead to a significant influx of new subscribers, with estimates ranging from 2.5 to 4 million, according to industry analysts. However, the game's launch may also result in lower sales due to the availability of the title through the subscription service. Michael Pachter, Wedbush boss, predicts that up to six million sales could be lost, but notes that the move will be beneficial for both Microsoft and consumers. Meanwhile, Ampere's chief games analyst Piers Harding-Rolls forecasts a more modest 10% increase in Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, translating to around 2.5 million new users. Harding-Rolls also suggests that some of these new subscribers will come from existing Game Pass Core and Standard users upgrading to the Ultimate tier. The success of this strategy will depend on Xbox's ability to retain these new subscribers beyond the initial launch period. Other analysts, such as Newzoo's Brett Hunt, believe that Black Ops 6 will attract a stronger audience this year, driven by its engaging campaign, new multiplayer features, and the return of round-based Zombies. The game's impact on PlayStation, which has historically had a content and marketing exclusivity agreement with Activision, is also a topic of discussion. While some analysts think that the game's availability on Game Pass could lead to an audience shift towards Xbox, others argue that cross-platform play and multi-platform accounts will mitigate this effect. Ultimately, the success of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Game Pass will hinge on Xbox's ability to implement a strategy to continually engage new subscribers and retain them beyond the initial launch period.