- By Vikas Yadav
- Sat, 18 May 2024 01:29 PM (IST)
- Source:Reuters
Redmond-headquartered Microsoft could release the upcoming installment of the Call of Duty via a subscription-based model. It could be a significant shift from the earlier offering to sell the videogame independently. According to a source cited in a Reuters report, the new strategy may be announced at Microsoft's Xbox showcase. The event is slated for June 9.
The Windows maker acquired the game via its buyout of Activision Blizzard. Closed in 2023, the deal was valued at $69 billion. Call of Duty is one of the most successful gaming properties of the company and has generated over 30 billion in revenue. For context, Activision has released editions of the first-person shooter priced at roughly $70 each on a yearly refresh basis in the past.
The update from the Reuters source comes days after Sarah Bond, President of Xbox, said it plans to introduce all first-party Xbox games on Game Pass, Microsoft's subscription service which offers games from developers (including Xbox) in exchange for a fee. The company has worked to build a gaming service in recent times, which is aimed at breaking Sony's PS dominance.
The tech giant claimed in February that the service has 34 billion subscribers, an increase from 25 million compared to 2022. While the arrival of Call of Duty could increase the user base of Game Pass, the overall sales may be affected, according to the analysts cited in the report.
Meanwhile, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, which debuted in November last year, is the second best-selling game in 2024 till now, right behind Sony's Helldivers II, as per Circana. On a related note, the company could also launch a new mobile gaming store in July. According to Bloomberg, the web-based store could offer games of Microsoft and discounts on in-game items. You can read more on this here.
With inputs from Reuters