There Was A Catch For Call of Duty Coming To Game Pass All Along

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Obaid Ur Rehman

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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After Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard, it was long rumored that Call of Duty would come to Xbox Game Pass. This speculation was put to an end after Microsoft announced it would release Modern Warfare 3 on the service.

Following various leaks and months of waiting, the service finally has its first Call of Duty title. However, before Microsoft announced that games from one of the biggest franchises would be coming to Game Pass, I already knew there would be a catch, and I was right.

Why it matters: Call of Duty is so big that it generates billions of dollars in revenue several months into its lifecycle, so Xbox would not give it away without any additional catch.

Call of Duty is Changing Xbox Game Pass

Microsoft’s subscription has been a fan favorite due to the availability of day-one AAA releases on the service. Many fans prefer using it on PC and Xbox to avoid spending $70 on full purchases. However, the service now costs much more annually, so users might not find it worth buying.

In my opinion, this is all due to the arrival of Call of Duty. It is surely changing the subscription for the worse. Now, you won’t even get day-one releases with the standard tier of this service. If reports are to be believed, you would have to wait for 6 to 12 months to play AAA releases on this tier.

Xbox is ending its “play it with day one with Game Pass” mission. However, I find it unfair for consumers that Call of Duty is changing the service drastically, especially since many might not even be interested in this series.

Sure, this IP is one of the biggest in the industry, but it doesn’t appeal to every single gamer. The gaming giant won’t even offer Call of Duty on every tier. For the complete experience, you must buy Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass.

Compensating For Call of Duty

This community has been left extremely confused by what Microsoft is doing, and it isn’t surprising at all. However, the gaming giant’s thought process is not too shocking, either.

Consider how much money any particular entry of this franchise typically makes, and you’ll see why prices are going up. This series typically sells millions of units at launch, and putting it on a subscription will ultimately cannibalize a certain portion of sales. For reference, Modern Warfare 2 made nearly $1 billion in three days.

Luckily for Xbox, it can still reap the benefits of sales on PlayStation. However, over on Microsoft’s own console and PC, the slight price hike will make this sacrifice just a bit less painful.

It’s being said that more price hikes are on the way. This is also completely understandable since the subscription needs to reach a point where Microsoft is comfortable with releasing future Call of Duty entries.

Buying Black Ops 6 Would Be Better

If you are a fan of Call of Duty and can’t wait to play Black Ops 6, then you should probably not opt for this subscription. You would need the Ultimate tier or PC Game Pass for day-one access, which would ultimately cost you more if you want to play this Black Ops entry for the long term.

Buying the actual game would be better in this case. If you are on a PC, there is no better platform than Steam. You might even find deals to get Black Ops 6 at a cheaper price on day one through third-party key sellers.

Given the scope and size of the game, users are more likely to buy on Steam. However, the main concern is for those who don’t even want to play this series.

That said, it may be best to look into third-party sites to stack up on Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions while they last. I recommend options like CDKeys, and you can even consider switching to PC Game Pass since this tier is ultimately the best option for now.

Obaid Ur Rehman

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com