CoD 2024 set to launch on Xbox Game Pass day one
ActivisionA new Call of Duty is set to arrive later in the year and following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, executives have hinted that CoD 2024 could arrive on Xbox Game Pass on day one.
Call of Duty players are still enjoying everything that Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone have to offer, with both games now in their second season. As always though, many are already starting to look ahead at what the future might hold.
A number of details have already leaked about CoD 2024, reportedly revealing the Black Ops Gulf War name as well as the return of round-based Zombies. But following Microsoft’s well-documented takeover of Activision Blizzard, fans might be wondering how its release will be affected.
Well, according to Xbox, it sounds as though the next Call of Duty could be the first entry in the series to launch on Game Pass on day one.
On February 15, 2024, Xbox released a podcast where Phil Spencer (Microsoft Gaming CEO), Sarah Bond (President), and Matt Booty (President of Game Content and Studios), were discussing the future of the platform.
Shortly after, the official Xbox X (formally Twitter) account shared a number of posts, one of which could hint at Black Ops Gulf War hitting Game Pass on launch day.
“Game Pass will continue to only be available on Xbox platforms and will have all first party games playable on day one,” said the tweet.
Given that Activision Blizzard is now owned by Microsoft, Call of Duty is classed as a first-party title, in the same vein as Halo, Gears of War, and Forza. This likely means that anyone who subscribes to Game Pass will be able to play CoD 2024 on day one for no extra cost, rather than having to purchase the game from the store.
It’s worth keeping in mind that this shouldn’t affect CoD Black Ops Gulf War’s launch on PlayStation consoles. Phil Spencer has mentioned multiple times that they have no intention of making Call of Duty Xbox exclusive.
Back in 2022, he said the team is “committed to making the same version of Call of Duty available on PlayStation on the same day the game launches elsewhere.”
Call of Duty is set to join the likes of Diablo 4 on Game Pass, which is another Activision Blizzard title set to be added to the service after the buyout.