Microsoft Gambles on Call of Duty to Boost Game Pass Subscriptions

To truly capitalize on the addition of Call of Duty, Microsoft may need to bolster its PC offerings and address technical issues, such as the lack of a native Linux client for Steam Deck users, among others.

The financial implications of this move are complex. While it may lead to a short-term boost in subscriptions, there's a risk of cannibalizing full-price sales.

The question remains whether the increase in subscribers will offset the potential loss of $70 purchases. It isn't impossible for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 to become the most-played Call of Duty at launch but also put up one of the worst launch figures, which isn't a good look two years after Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 set a new record for the franchise. Additionally, the cyclical nature of Call of Duty's popularity – with player numbers typically dropping off after the first few months – could lead to a surge of cancellations after a few months.

Microsoft's strategy also raises questions about the long-term value perception of both Game Pass and Call of Duty. If the franchise is not consistently available on the service in future years, it could lead to disappointment and a devaluation of the Game Pass offering in consumers' eyes. Simultaneously, it might impact the perceived value of Call of Duty itself, potentially affecting future sales.

Starfield

went through a similar situation last year,

setting a new record for the Game Pass

only to see

player numbers drop dramatically

as the hype died. Although it's showing signs of recovery after a year, Microsoft would prefer if their subscription numbers didn't fluctuate and depend heavily on blockbuster titles. To solve this problem, it has to consistently find a stream of high-quality content that keeps users engaged month after month, which is hard when you can't even get games like

Black Myth: Wukong

to launch on Xbox

,let alone the Game Pass.

The coming months will play a crucial role in determining whether this gamble pays off or if Microsoft will have to go back to the drawing board once again.