Microsoft has officially announced that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one. The news was shared in a post on Xbox Wire, where fans were directed to the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase event and the Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Direct, scheduled for June 9, 2024, at 10am PT. This event promises more details and the first in-depth look at the gameplay of this new, dark chapter in the Black Ops series.
The announcement was accompanied by the release of a live-action reveal trailer titled ‘The Truth Lies.’ The trailer features world leaders like Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, George H. W. Bush, Colin Powell, and Saddam Hussein delivering cryptic speeches. Black Ops 6 is reportedly set during the Gulf War in the early ’90s.
News of Black Ops 6’s inclusion in Game Pass is not entirely surprising. Xbox president Sarah Bond recently suggested that all Microsoft games, including those from the newly acquired Activision, would launch directly into Game Pass. This strategy, however, has raised concerns about the potential cannibalization of game sales. While Xbox executives argue that Game Pass can boost sales, some publishers remain skeptical. Former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick was notably opposed to including Call of Duty in subscription services. Unlike Microsoft, Sony does not release its new exclusives directly into its subscription service.
In an interview with IGN last year, Xbox head Phil Spencer addressed how he would manage differing ideologies with Kotick post-acquisition. Spencer humorously remarked, “Well, there’s a different person making the decisions.”
New Call of Duty titles typically sell for $70 and move around 25 million copies, generating substantial revenue. By offering this year’s Call of Duty on Game Pass from launch, Microsoft risks cannibalizing those sales. However, with Game Pass subscriber growth plateauing, adding a flagship title like Call of Duty at launch could attract new subscribers. The Verge has reported that Microsoft might raise the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate again.
Microsoft is also in the process of laying off 1,900 staff from its gaming division. Recently, the company announced the closure of Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks and Redfall developer Arkane Austin, sparking concerns about further cuts.
Details such as the release date, pricing, and platforms for Black Ops 6 are still under wraps, but the game is expected to launch across PC, last-gen, and current-gen consoles.
