It looks like the day-to-day era for major Game Pass releases is starting to crack. New parts of Call of Duty, despite the expectations of the players, will not appear in the subscription immediately after the release.
After the deal between Microsoft and Activision, many expected the series to become a permanent part of the service from day one. But, judging by the latest data, the strategy turned out to be much more cautious.
The reason is obvious: Call of Duty remains one of the most profitable franchises in the industry. To release such projects immediately in subscription means risking direct sales, which bring in billions. That is why Xbox is in no hurry to repeat the model applied to its other releases.
At the same time, the company is not going to completely abandon the Game Pass. The games in the series are likely to appear in the catalog, but some time after the release. This approach allows you to maintain a balance between sales and subscription value.
For players, this means a simple thing: it’s no longer worth waiting for new Call of Duty in the Game Pass on release day. But in the long run, the chances of seeing them in the service’s library still remain — just a little later than we would like.
