The creative director of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has discussed the positive impact of Game Pass on the game's launch, noting that it significantly boosted player numbers in various ways. Speaking with the BBC, Miles Leslie explained that Game Pass helped persuade individuals who were 'on the fence' or 'had some of that friction' to give the game a try. He also mentioned that some players who hadn't engaged with a Call of Duty title in a while were encouraged to 'come back and try the game' due to Game Pass.
Leslie reflected on the long history of Black Ops and Call of Duty, stating, 'We've gotten to the point now where Black Ops and Call of Duty have been around so long--I've been working on it for 16 years.' He emphasized the challenge of not only catering to existing fans but also creating an environment that welcomes new fans.
Black Ops 6 was released on October 25 and set several records for player numbers. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted Black Ops 6 as a key driver for increasing Game Pass subscribers at launch. Subscribers to Game Pass Ultimate ($20/month) or PC Game Pass ($12/month) can play Black Ops 6 as part of their subscription as long as it remains active. The game is also available for direct purchase on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.
Prior to the launch, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed his belief that Call of Duty would temporarily boost Game Pass subscribers for Microsoft. However, he viewed releasing a major new game into a subscription service as a 'lost opportunity' for sales. Zelnick's perspectives, as a third-party publisher, may differ from Microsoft's business objectives.
Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter estimated that Microsoft's inclusion of Black Ops 6 in Game Pass could result in up to six million lost sales, with 25% of existing Game Pass subscribers potentially purchasing the game anyway. Pachter also suggested that Black Ops 6 could attract as many as four million new Game Pass subscribers.
Microsoft has not disclosed specific sales figures for Black Ops 6. The game is also available on PlayStation and PC, where it is experiencing robust year-over-year sales compared to 2023's Modern Warfare III.
Black Ops 6 is set to receive its first major update with the launch of Season 1 on November 14. This update introduces new multiplayer maps and modes, additional weapons, and a power drill melee weapon. November 14 also marks the integration of Black Ops 6 into Call of Duty: Warzone, along with the arrival of the new Warzone map, Area 99.
Source link: https://www.gamespot.com
