Activision has announced that Black Ops 6 enjoyed the most successful launch month of any title in the Call of Duty franchise, after previously stating that it was the most successful day one Game Pass launch per the number of games installed and new subscribers added.
Black Ops 6 launch
Black Ops 6 launched on October 26 on PC and consoles. It was the first title in the series to get a Game Pass launch after Activision-Blizzard’s acquisition by Microsoft last year following a lengthy antitrust process. The game has been well received by reviewers and players alike, amassing a critic score of 83 on the aggregator site Metacritic.
Multiplayer popularity
A day-one launch on Game Pass means that Black Ops 6 was exposed to its approximately 34 million subscribers. According to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, the relationship is mutually beneficial, too, explaining during last month’s earnings call that the game had enjoyed a record-breaking launch . Nadella went on to say that the game had also experienced a 60% increase in title sales on the PlayStation and Steam.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision
In January 2022, Microsoft announced its intention to buy Activision Blizzard. The deal-underwent considerable scrutiny by various competition and antitrust bodies. To help ensure the passing of the deal, Microsoft agreed to a non-exclusivity deal that would run until 2033 and ensure that CoD would be made available on other platforms. The deal was finally completed and announced on October 13, 2023.
The finalization of the deal made Black Ops 6’s launch all the more intriguing. There had been rumblings of discontent, primarily from gamers who felt the series had seen a drop in quality. However, if Activision’s announcements are anything to go by, that hasn’t proven the case in terms of revenue.
As well as setting Game Pass records, Activision has said that the latest Black Ops has seen the highest number of players, the most total matches, and the most hours played for any Call of Duty game in its first month.
What next for Call of Duty?
The Call of Duty series started in 2003, and since then, there has been at least one new title every year. Before the launch of Black Ops 6, the most recent title was Modern Warfare III in 2023, while the most recent Black Ops title was Black Ops: Cold War in 2020.
The series is essentially guaranteed to continue into 2025, but players have a lot of new Black Ops 6 content to look forward to before that, starting with a surprise mid-season double XP weekend in just a few days, and the reintroduction of the Prop Hunt game type and the Stakeout 24/7 playlist. On December 5, we will get the Season 1 Reloaded update to savor.
Published: Nov 27, 2024 12:45 pm