COD on Xbox Game Pass, analysts speak: impact would be 'considerable'

Do you want to stay up to date with the latest news? Follow us on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

After a year that saw Microsoft miss targets related to the number of Xbox Game Pass subscribers in 2022 and Sony losing 2 million PlayStation Plus subscribers, the future of video game subscription services is still to be written.

It is a constantly changing picture that, at least according to some analysts, could be revolutionized by Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Among the proponents of this view is Piers Harding-Rolls, research director at Ampere Games.

Would it be beneficial?

During a recent interview with GamesIndustry, the latter emphasized the potential impact that could result from the Day One entry of the Call of Duty series into the Xbox Game Pass catalog.

"If Call of Duty is added day-and-date to Game Pass, it will have a notable impact on subscriber numbers," he says. "Additionally, the inclusion of Warzone with added Game Pass perks will help with engagement and retention. Call of Duty is regular and big enough to provide a meaningful bump to the subscription opportunity, which in turn may result in publishers reviewing their AAA budgets, product, and monetization strategies."

The process, the Ampere Games analyst continues, could even prompt publishers to question the distribution systems of their big-budget AAAs.

In case you missed it: Call of Duty on Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus 'makes sense,' analysts say.

At the moment, however, the researcher concludes there is insufficient data and evidence to predict the sustainability of subscription systems currently available in the video game market.

Would you subscribe to Game Pass to play these titles? Let us know in the comments!