Impact of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Xbox Game Pass
With Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 almost upon us (or already upon us depending on your geographical location), analysts have been weighing in on the impact it’s likely to have on Xbox Game Pass, with some reckoning it could bring as many as 4m new members to Microsoft’s subscription service, albeit at a cost of up to 6m sales.
Game Pass Launch and Subscriber Surge
Black Ops 6 will be the first Call of Duty title to launch day one on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, marking a critical test for Microsoft’s subscription service strategy following its $69bn USD acquisition of Activision Blizzard last year.
Analysts interviewed by GamesIndustry.biz suggest that Black Ops 6’s Game Pass launch will lead to a significant surge of new subscribers, although it may come at the expense of game sales. Wedbush Securities’ Michael Pachter believes Microsoft will gain between three and four million new members post-launch, but this move could result in up to 6m lost sales.
Analyst Insights
Ampere’s Piers Harding-Rolls is slightly less optimistic about Black Ops 6’s Game Pass allure, estimating a 10 percent subscriber boost to Game Pass Ultimate, which could lead to around 2.5m new members. He points out that not all of these will be completely new users as some may be upgrading from lower Game Pass tiers.
Harding-Rolls emphasizes that Microsoft may be sacrificing premium full-game sales for a larger audience that can be monetized in-game, given the live-service nature of Call of Duty. This shift raises questions about the game’s monetization strategy compared to previous entries in the franchise.
Future Outlook and Potential Impact
Katan Games’ Dr. Serkan Toto raises concerns about Microsoft’s expectations for Game Pass growth post-launch and whether Black Ops 6 can retain subscribers in the long run. There is uncertainty about the game’s ability to meet targets and maintain momentum beyond the initial hype.
In terms of how Black Ops 6’s Game Pass launch might affect PlayStation, Harding-Rolls doubts that the longer-term audience on PlayStation will be significantly disrupted, despite Microsoft’s efforts to attract players to its platform. Cross-platform play and multi-platform accounts may mitigate any permanent shift in player base.
Microsoft’s Strategy and Potential Success
If Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 proves to be a success on Game Pass, Microsoft is likely to highlight its achievement through membership figures. The recent increase in “fully paid” subscribers indicates positive growth for the service. However, the unintended consequence of some characters turning blue in the game has also garnered attention.
FAQs
Q: How many new members is Microsoft expecting from Black Ops 6’s Game Pass launch?
A: Analysts estimate between three to four million new members, although this could result in up to 6m lost sales.
Q: Will Black Ops 6’s launch impact PlayStation’s player base?
A: While there may be some influence on players who own both Xbox and PlayStation consoles, the long-term disruption to PlayStation’s audience is doubted.
Q: What challenges may Black Ops 6 face in retaining subscribers post-launch?
A: Maintaining player engagement and interest beyond the initial hype, as well as addressing in-game monetization strategies, are key challenges for the game.
Credit: www.eurogamer.net
