Microsoft Ends $1 Game Pass Trial Ahead Of Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 Launch

by Franca Quarneti Benzinga Staff Writer

Zinger Key Points

Microsoft ends its $1 Game Pass trial ahead of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launch, pushing users to higher subscription tiers.
The game will be available day-one on Game Pass, marking a major move for the platform post-Activision acquisition.
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Microsoft Corp. MSFT has discontinued its $1 for 14 days Game Pass trial just before the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which is set to release directly on Game Pass next week.

This move mirrors the company's strategy before last year’s release of Bethesda's Starfield, when the same trial offer was also removed. The $1 trial was only available to new subscribers who hadn't used Game Pass before, The Verge reported.

Game Pass Tiers For Black Ops 6

To access Black Ops 6 at launch, subscribers will need to be signed up for either the $19.99 per month Game Pass Ultimate or the $11.99 per month PC Game Pass.

The standard $14.99 per month Xbox Game Pass does not include day-one releases, meaning users on that plan would not have access to the game unless they upgrade.

This is the first time a Call of Duty title will be available on Game Pass on release day. The move follows Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard last year, which brought major franchises like Call of Duty, Diablo, and World of Warcraft into its portfolio.

A Strategic Gamble

Launching Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Game Pass is a calculated move for Microsoft. The company is banking on the game's popularity to boost subscriptions and revenue, particularly after recent price hikes for Game Pass. However, there's a risk that offering such a major title as part of the subscription service could impact traditional game sales.

Former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick had been against adding Call of Duty to subscription platforms, expressing concerns that it could affect full-game purchases.

Pressure On Microsoft's Gaming Division

Following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft's gaming division faces significant pressure to meet high expectations. In an interview earlier this year, Xbox head Phil Spencer acknowledged the stakes: "We run a business. It's definitely true inside of Microsoft the bar is high for us in terms of the delivery we have to give back to the company."

The restructuring has also led to layoffs, with around 2,550 employees cut from Microsoft's gaming division since the Activision deal closed. Several game studios have been affected as the company seeks to streamline its operations.

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