Summary
TheCall of Dutyseries may not be coming toXbox Game Pass, a well-known Microsoft leaker has said. The addition of the hit shooter franchise toXbox Game Passwas previously touted as one of the biggest consumer-facing benefits of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
After the $68.7 billion deal was closed in October, Microsoft was swarmed with fan questions about when exactly it intends to bring its newest subsidiary’s catalog to its subscription service. Shortly thereafter,Activision Blizzard said its games would start arriving on Xbox Game Passsometime in 2024.
Call of Duty May Skip Game Pass As Part of Microsoft’s Pivot to Third-Party Publishing
And while theCall of Dutyseries was never expected to be in the first wave of those additions, it now appears that the hit franchise may end up skipping the subscription service altogether. That’s according to long-time Microsoft leaker Timdog, who said he “heard” thatCall of Dutywon’t be coming to Xbox Game Pass during the latest episode of theGamers Councilpodcast. The insider sarcastically labeled that move as one of Microsoft’s “brilliant ideas” made as part of the company’s rumored pivot to third-party publishing, all in response todeclining Xbox console sales.
The strategic shift, which Microsoft has yet to announce, is rumored to result in a variety of its existing and upcoming titles going multi-platform. Among other things, several insidersreported thatStarfieldwill be coming to the PS5sometime in 2024. While its PlayStation release date remains unclear, Microsoft is said to be aiming to bring Bethesda’s latest title to Sony’s console around the time the Shattered Space expansion launches on PC and the Xbox Series X/S.Indiana Jones and the Great Circleis also said to be under consideration for a multi-platform release.
I heard that even Call of Duty is not going to come to Game Pass; that’s one of their brilliant ideas.
Xbox Game Pass Is Said To Be Profitable But Unsustainable
Timdog expects the company to announce its shift to multi-platform publishing at the next Xbox Games Showcase, which is said to be packed with new titles. When exactly that event is planned to take place is unclear. Prior to this report,Call of Dutywas expected to reach Xbox Game Pass in 2025, according to Microsoft’s previous regulatory disclosures.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the highest tier of Microsoft’s flagship game subscription service that offers over 100 game titles that you can play with a single purchase, making it one of the most outstanding value propositions of the Xbox ecosystem to date.
