Microsoft plans to release the upcoming installment of the “Call of Duty” video game on its subscription service, in a departure from its longstanding practice of selling titles independently, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday.
The move is expected to be announced at the company’s annual Xbox unveiling, scheduled for June 9, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the plans are private.
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” by buying out Activision Blizzard in a $69 billion deal that closed late last year.
The first-person shooter video game is one of the most successful entertainment properties and has generated more than $30 billion in lifetime revenue.
Activision has been releasing new editions of the game for a long time at an annual price of around $70 in recent years.
The development comes just days after Xbox president Sarah Bond said at a conference that the company plans to release all first-party Xbox games on Game Pass on their launch day.
Microsoft operates a subscription service called Game Pass, which offers access to games from Xbox and other developers for a fee.
The Redmond, Wash.-based company has aggressively sought to build Netflix-style game subscription services in recent years as part of its efforts to break the dominance of PlayStation consoles made by Japanese rival Sony Corp.
Microsoft said in February that Game Pass had 34 million subscribers, up from the 25 million it reported in 2022.
Analysts say the launch of “Call of Duty” — a franchise with a large and loyal fan base — would help drive more people to Game Pass, but could affect overall sales generated by the title.
“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III,” released in November 2023, is the second best-selling game so far this year. It falls behind Sony’s “Helldivers II,” according to industry tracker Circan.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
(This story was not edited by NDTV staff and was auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
