The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 set new records for Xbox and was the biggest launch of the franchise in its history.
During Microsoft's Q1 2025 earnings call, CEO Satya Nadella revealed that the game broke records for day one players and Game Pass subscribers.
Black Ops 6 is the first Activision Blizzard title to launch day and date on Game Pass.
The title also saw a 60% year-over-year increase in unit sales on PlayStation and Steam.
“This speaks to our strategy to meet gamers where they are and enable them to play more games on the screens they spend time on,” Nadella said.
CFO Amy Hood noted that the difference from previous entries in the franchise is that the game is available on Game Pass and requires an online connection.
“For players who play through Game Pass, subscription revenue is recognized over time,” Hood said. “The game requires an online connection to play, so even players who purchase the stand-alone game will see revenue recognition over time.”
Microsoft reported a strong Q1, with revenue from Xbox content and services up 61% year over year.
The firm was acquired by Activision Blizzard in October 2023 after regulatory hurdles in the UK, EU and US.
As part of the deal, Ubisoft acquired the cloud streaming rights for Call of Duty and other Activision Blizzard titles over the next 15 years.
Microsoft also made binding agreements with Sony and Nintendo to keep Call of Duty on their platforms for another ten years.
Analysts predicted that Black Ops 6 could increase Game Pass subscribers by 2.5 million to 4 million. They also suggested that putting the title on Game Pass may hurt the game's sales.
In our latest episode of The GamesIndustry.biz Microcast, we discussed Black Ops 6's potential to increase Game Pass subscribers.