Microsoft plans to release its upcoming “Call of Duty” video game through its subscription service, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday, reversing its longstanding practice of only selling the game independently.
The move is expected to be announced at the company’s annual Xbox Showcase, scheduled for June 9, the person said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the plan has not been made public.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment. The Wall Street Journal first reported the news on Friday.
Microsoft acquired Call of Duty through its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which it completed late last year.
First-person shooter video games are one of the most successful entertainment products, with lifetime revenue of over $30 billion.
In recent years, Activision has released new versions of the game every year, each selling for about $70.
Just days ago, Xbox president Sarah Bond said at a conference that the company plans to release all first-party Xbox games on Game Pass on launch day.
Microsoft manages a subscription service called Game Pass that provides paid access to games from Xbox and other developers.
The Redmond, Wash.-based company has tried aggressively in recent years to build a Netflix-style gaming subscription service as part of an effort to break the dominance of the PlayStation console, made by Japanese rival Sony Corp.
Microsoft said in February that Game Pass had 34 million subscribers, up from 25 million reported in 2022.
Analysts say the launch of the Call of Duty franchise, which has a huge following of loyal fans, will help attract more people to Game Pass but could hurt the game’s overall sales.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, released in November 2023, is the second-best-selling game so far this year. It trails Sony’s Helldivers II, according to industry tracker Circana.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
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