The recent success of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 follows Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which enabled several titles to be included in the Game Pass platform.

In a significant shift, Black Ops 6 launched simultaneously on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, a move that surprised many given Activision Blizzard's previous reluctance to include Call of Duty games in subscription services.

Despite initial fears that including the game in Game Pass would negatively impact sales, Black Ops 6 has emerged as the best-selling game on Steam, surpassing both free-to-play titles and the Steam Deck.

This success has reportedly drawn 3 to 4 million new users to the Game Pass platform, providing a substantial boost to Microsoft.

Critically, Black Ops 6 has been praised as the best installment in years, featuring an engaging campaign that includes tactical battles and stealth puzzles.

In contrast, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 faced criticism for its lack of innovation, with fans labeling it a cash grab due to recycled maps and unchanged gameplay.

Overall, the Call of Duty franchise remains a dominant force in the gaming industry, consistently topping sales charts.

Interestingly, many players still prefer to purchase Black Ops 6 outright on Steam rather than accessing it through Game Pass, reflecting a strong preference for ownership over subscription models.