Microsoft revealed in May that the highly anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be accessible on Xbox Game Pass from its launch date of October 25. The gaming giant is likely counting on this addition to enhance its Game Pass subscriber base, leveraging the popularity of the first-person shooter franchise. While this move marks a significant commitment to include Call of Duty on Game Pass, major third-party companies may not follow suit. Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick indicated that while the inclusion of Call of Duty could drive a temporary spike in Game Pass subscribers, the company does not intend to place its own AAA titles on the subscription service.
In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Zelnick expressed that adding a major title like Call of Duty upon its release would likely attract more subscribers to Game Pass for a limited time. “Offering a frontline title with a premium price in a subscription service, day and date, will drive consumers to that subscription service for a while,” he commented.
However, Zelnick affirmed that this strategy will not influence Take-Two’s decisions regarding its future releases. “No, it won’t affect our decisions. Because our decisions are rational,” he noted.
His remarks came in the wake of Take-Two’s announcement of its first-quarter financial results, which revealed net bookings of $1.22 billion (about Rs. 10,242 crore), falling slightly short of analyst expectations of $1.25 billion (approximately Rs. 10,494 crore). The company, nonetheless, anticipates an increase in net bookings for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027, coinciding with the much-anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6 next year.
While GTA 6 does not yet have a fixed launch date, Take-Two has indicated a release window set for Fall 2025.
Activision is preparing to unveil Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the latest installment in its renowned shooter series, on October 25. Microsoft confirmed in May that this title will be the first in the franchise to be available on Game Pass from the day of its release.
Just days after this announcement, Microsoft raised Game Pass pricing across various tiers and regions, introducing a new ‘Standard’ tier that excludes day one launch titles.
