According to a source familiar with the matter, Microsoft (MSFT.O) is reportedly planning to introduce the upcoming “Call of Duty” installment to its subscription service, marking a departure from its traditional practice of standalone sales for the game. The announcement is anticipated to be made during the company’s annual Xbox showcase on June 9, as per the anonymous source.
Microsoft has yet to respond to Reuters’ request for comment, but The Wall Street Journal first broke the news on Friday. The tech giant acquired “Call of Duty” as part of its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in a $69 billion deal finalized late last year.
Recognized as one of the most successful entertainment franchises, “Call of Duty” has amassed over $30 billion in lifetime revenue. Historically, Activision has released new editions of the game annually, typically priced around $70 each.
This development comes shortly after Xbox President Sarah Bond announced plans to make all first-party Xbox games available on Game Pass on their launch day. Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription service provides access to games from Xbox and other developers for a monthly fee.
In recent years, Microsoft has been aggressively expanding its Netflix-style game subscription services as part of its strategy to challenge the dominance of Sony Corp’s PlayStation consoles. The company, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, reported 34 million Game Pass subscribers in February, up from 25 million in 2022.
Analysts speculate that introducing “Call of Duty” to Game Pass, a franchise with a vast and dedicated fan base, could attract more users to the service but may impact overall sales of the game.
