Xbox Doubles Down on Game Pass with Day-One Launches of Call of Duty and More

Microsoft is raising the stakes in the subscription-based gaming wars by bringing some of its biggest titles—starting with the next Call of Duty—directly to Xbox Game Pass on day one. The news broke earlier today, confirming growing speculation that the tech giant was planning to leverage its recently acquired franchises to supercharge Game Pass’ value proposition.

The upcoming Call of Duty installment, expected to be revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase this June, will land on Game Pass the same day it launches globally. This marks a bold move by Microsoft, as Call of Duty has historically been a blockbuster retail success generating massive sales upon release. Now, access to the highly anticipated shooter will come bundled with a monthly subscription, drawing in both longtime fans and new players alike.

But that’s not all. Xbox is reportedly planning to follow suit with several other first-party titles, including highly anticipated projects from Bethesda, Obsidian, and Playground Games. The clear message: Xbox is betting big on Game Pass as the cornerstone of its gaming strategy.

Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, emphasized this shift during a press briefing. “We want to make Game Pass the best destination for discovering and playing the industry’s best games—on day one,” he said. “By bringing our biggest titles, including Call of Duty, directly into the Game Pass ecosystem, we’re giving players unprecedented value and choice.”

Industry analysts believe this strategy could be the key to challenging Sony’s dominance in the console market. While PlayStation continues to focus on premium à la carte releases, Microsoft is offering an all-you-can-play model that may appeal to gamers looking for affordability and variety.

This announcement also raises questions for long-term Call of Duty fans and the broader AAA landscape. Will collectors and day-one purchasers embrace this shift? Will other publishers follow suit? While it’s too early to say, one thing is clear: the battle for console supremacy is heating up, and Microsoft is all in on subscription gaming.