Game Pass Boosts PlayStation Call of Duty Sales: Unexpected Twist

Game Pass’s Impact on Call of Duty Sales: A Surprise Twist

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s launch on Xbox Game Pass had an unexpected effect on sales. Analyst Mat Piscatella revealed that it created a “subscription spending boost,” with players opting for Game Pass over an outright purchase.

Unexpected Sales Shift

Interestingly, this Game Pass strategy shifted a larger share of full-game sales to PlayStation. While Xbox became the most popular platform for Call of Duty in a decade, PlayStation dominated full-game sales, accounting for 82% of Black Ops 6’s total console sales in October. This benefits both Microsoft (owning Call of Duty) and Sony (receiving platform revenue).

Cannibalization Concerns Debated

The impact of Game Pass on Black Ops 6 sales is still unclear. While some developers have reported sales cannibalization with Game Pass releases, others haven’t seen the same effect. Piscatella suggests there isn’t a definitive answer yet for Call of Duty.

Hardware Sales and Game Pass Strategy

Black Ops 6’s Game Pass launch didn’t significantly boost Xbox Series X|S hardware sales. Xbox hardware sales declined in October, though less than PlayStation 5 and Switch. Microsoft’s focus has shifted beyond console sales; the Xbox brand encompasses more than just the console itself.

The Unclear Economics of Game Pass

The true economic impact of Game Pass remains ambiguous. Microsoft doesn’t publicly share its deals with developers and publishers, and also avoids disclosing Xbox console sales numbers, preferring to focus on broader engagement metrics.

Despite this uncertainty, Black Ops 6 was the number one best-selling game in October 2024 in the US and the third best-selling game overall in 2024.