Microsoft to release next ‘Call of Duty’ game on subscription service, source says

According to a source familiar with the matter, Microsoft (MSFT.O) plans to introduce the next “Call of Duty” game to its subscription service, a change from its traditional method of selling the game separately. This announcement is expected at Microsoft’s annual Xbox showcase on June 9. The source requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the plans.

Microsoft has not yet responded to a comment request from Reuters. The Wall Street Journal initially reported this news on Friday. Microsoft’s acquisition of “Call of Duty” came through its $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard, finalized late last year. The “Call of Duty” series, one of the most successful in the entertainment industry, has earned over $30 billion in lifetime revenue.

Activision has historically released new “Call of Duty” editions annually, each priced around $70 in recent years. This development follows Xbox President Sarah Bond’s recent announcement that all first-party Xbox games would be available on Game Pass on their release day.

Microsoft, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, has been expanding its Netflix-like game subscription services aggressively to compete with Sony Corp’s (6758.T) PlayStation consoles. In February, Microsoft reported that Game Pass had 34 million subscribers, up from 25 million in 2022.

Analysts believe that including “Call of Duty,” a franchise with a significant and dedicated fan base, in Game Pass will attract more subscribers but could potentially impact the overall sales of the game. “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III,” released in November 2023, is the second-best selling game this year, following Sony’s “Helldivers II,” according to industry tracker Circana.