By love-89.com The highly anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has finally been released, much to the excitement of gamers. The Call of Duty (CoD) series has cemented its place in gaming history with over 425 million copies sold, generating billions in revenue. This year’s installment stands out by being available immediately to subscribers of Microsoft’s Game Pass service, a first for such a major title.
Subscribers won’t have to pay extra to access the game, making it an attractive option for those familiar with the Netflix-style subscription model. Game Pass, which offers Xbox and PC players access to hundreds of games for a monthly fee, is similar to Sony’s PlayStation Plus. Earlier this year, Microsoft introduced a tiered pricing system for subscribers.
As the first mainline CoD game released post-Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard—a monumental deal in the gaming industry—there’s a lot of speculation about its implications. Experts suggest that while this could attract more subscribers to Game Pass, it might ultimately affect traditional game sales, with the real impact expected to unfold in the coming months.
Content creator BennyCentral believes that Game Pass is “one of the biggest elements this year.” He explains, “The fact that it’s going to give people so much access, whether they’re playing on Xbox or PC, means they can play the full game as part of that subscription.”
Benny, who has Game Pass, shares with BBC Newsbeat that the service will significantly “widen the player base” for those who may not have previously played Black Ops. He notes, “They might be more likely to hop on and try it for the first time.” Fellow creator OllMS agrees, suggesting that Microsoft’s approach makes the game “more accessible to a wider audience,” particularly for younger gamers who may have to wait for gifts to enjoy such titles.
Historically, CoD has led the sales charts on PlayStation, and Microsoft has even signed a 10-year agreement to keep the game available on Sony and Nintendo platforms. Despite some concerns regarding how this might affect PlayStation users, who still must pay full price, OllMS views this as a positive development for content creators. “It’ll be really exciting to create content for even more people right from the launch,” he remarks.
Both Benny and OllMS express enthusiasm for the new features in Black Ops 6. Benny mentions the innovative omnimovement, which he believes could “revolutionize how CoD is played.” He points out that the ability to move in all directions will allow for unique gameplay strategies, noting impressive performances during the beta.
OllMS also appreciates the revival of classic weapons, like the AS VAL assault rifle, which he feels will enhance gameplay, particularly in combination with the new movement mechanics. “There will be ways to create content and perform plays that people have never seen before,” he states.
Set against the backdrop of the Gulf War in the 1990s, Black Ops 6’s story mode has already stirred controversy and was reportedly banned in Kuwait. Benny is particularly fond of this throwback setting because he enjoys exploring the historical narratives of Black Ops games. “It will be interesting to see how they incorporate elements from a time without smartphones,” he adds.
Given the tradition of annual releases, some might wonder if there’s such a thing as too much Call of Duty. For OllMS, the answer is a resounding no. “I don’t think there can be too many CoD games,” he asserts. “It’s something new and fresh that appeals to both younger and older audiences, whether they play solo or with friends.”