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The decision to add Call of Duty to Xbox Game Pass was supposed to be one of the biggest advantages following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Initially, everything looked great—record popularity, massive interest, and a surge of new subscribers. However, signals are now emerging that this strategy may have serious flaws. According to an industry insider, it's possible that as early as 2026 the series could… disappear from the service. And this wouldn't just be a minor adjustment, but a decision that could upend the entire Game Pass model.
Success that Started to Hurt
The introduction of Call of Duty to Game Pass, starting with Black Ops 6, was a massive move both marketing-wise and business-wise. The problem is that the scale of success has started to work against the platform itself. As insider Jez Corden points out, the game is so enormous that it literally “sucks” the budget assigned to Game Pass, limiting funds for other productions. This leads to a dangerous domino effect where fewer new games means a greater risk of subscriber loss. On the other hand, the brand itself suffers too. The subscription model means that players do not have to buy the new Call of Duty at full price, which can directly impact sales. As a result, we have a paradox: the presence of the game in Game Pass harms both the service and the series itself. It is precisely these tensions that are said to be one of the reasons Microsoft is considering radical changes.
Dearer subscription and new ideas
It's also significant that Microsoft previously raised the price of Game Pass Ultimate by as much as 50%. This was largely explained by access to the latest Call of Duty. So if the game actually disappears from the service, a natural move would seem to be reducing the subscription price, as otherwise, it will be hard to justify its value. At the same time, there are reports of new, cheaper tiers of Game Pass with the codenames Triton and Duet. These would provide access solely to first-party games, such as Halo, Gears of War, or Fallout, without the largest hits like Call of Duty. This shows that Microsoft may be looking for a completely new direction instead of one expensive package with "everything"; we will see a more fragmented offer tailored to different players.
If Call of Duty really does disappear from Game Pass, it will be a signal that even the biggest brands don't always fit the subscription model. For Microsoft, this is a moment of truth and a possible beginning of significant changes in strategy.
source: wccftech.com
