Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Breaks Records with Historic Xbox Game Pass Launch
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Breaks Records with Historic Xbox Game Pass Launch
Microsoft has reported that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 achieved unprecedented success as both the most successful launch in the history of the franchise and a major win for Xbox Game Pass. The 21st entry in the Call of Duty series was released on October 25, 2024, across PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Notably, Black Ops 6 became the first Call of Duty title to debut on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from day one, setting a significant milestone for the subscription service. Despite minor technical issues, Black Ops 6 has received praise for both its campaign and multiplayer modes, with particular acclaim for the campaign, an area that Call of Duty has traditionally struggled to stand out in. The game has also proven financially successful, reportedly marking new highs in sales.
During Microsoft’s quarterly earnings call, CEO Satya Nadella disclosed that Black Ops 6 set records for both “day one players” and “Game Pass subscriber additions on launch day,” underlining the success of adding the game to Xbox Game Pass from launch. Not only has it driven a surge in Game Pass subscriptions, but Black Ops 6 has also seen impressive sales across Steam (PC) and PlayStation, with a 60% increase year-over-year.
Nadella stated that this approach aligns with Xbox’s strategy of “meeting gamers where they are,” reflecting Xbox chief Phil Spencer’s vision from earlier this year of making gaming accessible on any screen. This record-breaking debut for Black Ops 6 on Xbox Game Pass has generated positive momentum for both Xbox and the Call of Duty franchise, addressing previous concerns over subscriber growth slowdown for Xbox Game Pass. Additionally, the game’s well-received campaign marks a return to strong storytelling for the series.