Xbox Game Pass Projected To Earn Millions In Subscribers From Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6, Analyst Indicates

The core driving factor for Microsoft in its Xbox division is to grow Xbox Game Pass. It is no question the firm continues to invest in new approaches to expand the subscription that already reaches beyond its console. With its latest addition – Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 – it remains evident that Microsoft is seeing no end to spend for this business model to continue growing.

Previously, it was reported that Microsoft spends close to $1 billion annually to bring new offers to pre-existing & new users for Xbox Game Pass. This was reported in a piece by Bloomberg earlier this month. Additionally, analysts also speculate the service will generate Microsoft roughly $5.5 billion by next year. Ampere Analysis determines this in a separate report.

Now with anticipation still riding the waves less than a week since the launch for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, analysts project that Xbox Game Pass will face an influx of subscribers. At least, one million is guaranteed from the decision. In an interview with gamesindustry.biz, Ampere Analysis analyst Piers Harding-Rolls understands that there is a conservative payoff for featuring the game on Xbox Game Pass.

“There is no doubt that adding the latest Call of Duty will be expensive, at least initially, for Microsoft. However, Call of Duty is increasingly a live-service game first and foremost that monetises strongly in-game. Microsoft will be trading premium full-game sales in exchange for a bigger audience that can be monetised in-game instead,” he shared. Those who own both Xbox and PlayStation consoles may be swayed to play the game on Microsoft’s devices, but cross-platform play and multi-platform accounts mean this is not necessarily a permanent decision,” he added.

“Indeed, there could be a scenario where PlayStation-first multi-console gamers switch to Xbox to play the premium campaign while still playing F2P Warzone on their preferred console under a single Activision account. As such, I’m not convinced that the longer-term audience on PlayStation will be significantly disrupted, although Sony will potentially have its storefront share of premium sales undermined to an extent.”

Other analysts that spoke with the publication do believe that turnout is much wider for Microsoft’s sake thanks to the decision. Wedbush head Michael Pachter does chime in to believe that close to four million added users is possible with Black Ops 6 on Xbox Game Pass. But, sales are to decline compared to prior releases. “Good overall for Microsoft and for consumers. But the headline will say ‘Call of Duty sales are down’.”

Are you playing Black Ops 6 via Xbox Game Pass?

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is out now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Source: gamesindustry.biz