Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 May Boost Xbox Game Pass Subscriptions by Millions

The upcoming release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Game Pass is expected to draw in millions of new subscribers, although it may also lead to a decrease in game sales. According to Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter, the move could result in up to six million lost sales, as some Game Pass subscribers may have purchased the game otherwise. However, he predicts that between three to four million people will sign up for Game Pass to access the title. Pachter views this as a positive development for both Microsoft and consumers, despite potential headlines about declining Call of Duty sales. Ampere's Piers Harding-Rolls forecasts a more modest 10% increase in Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, equivalent to 2.5 million users. He notes that some of these new subscribers will be existing Game Pass Core and Standard users upgrading to the Ultimate tier, which is the only tier offering Call of Duty. Harding-Rolls believes that while there will be some lost premium sales, Microsoft can offset this through other monetization strategies. The removal of the 14-day $1 trial offer suggests that Microsoft is focused on maximizing subscription revenue from the introduction of Call of Duty. Newzoo analyst Brett Hunt expects Black Ops 6 to attract a larger audience than last year's Modern Warfare 3, thanks to its well-received campaign, new multiplayer features, and return of round-based Zombies. The inclusion of Call of Duty in Game Pass may also have implications for PlayStation, as the content and marketing exclusivity agreement between Sony and Activision has ended. However, analysts agree that the success of this move will depend on Xbox's ability to retain new subscribers beyond the game's launch period and implement a strategy to engage them throughout 2025.