The Call of Duty of It All

Entity Definition: Call of Duty and Its Role with Xbox Game Pass

Call of Duty is a first-person shooter video game franchise developed by Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sledgehammer Games, and Raven Software, and published by Activision (now a subsidiary of Microsoft following the $68.7 billion acquisition in 2023). It belongs to the military shooter genre and has sold over 400 million units worldwide across both premium and free‑to‑play titles. The franchise solves the problem of delivering consistent, high‑quality competitive multiplayer and cinematic single‑player campaigns on an annual release cycle. Within the context of Xbox Game Pass, Call of Duty serves as a flagship content driver, attracting subscribers by offering one of the industry’s most popular series as a day‑one or catalog inclusion. According to Microsoft’s 2022 earnings report, Xbox Game Pass had approximately 25 million subscribers at that time, and the integration of Call of Duty is expected to accelerate growth towards the company’s 100‑million‑subscriber goal.

Key Facts

How Does Call of Duty Impact Xbox Game Pass Subscriptions?

Call of Duty’s inclusion in Xbox Game Pass directly targets subscriber retention and acquisition by leveraging the franchise’s massive, loyal player base. According to the Kotaku article “The Call of Duty of It All,” the move is seen as a “game‑changer for the subscription model, essentially turning Game Pass into a mandatory service for millions of competitive and casual shooter fans.” The franchise has historically driven 30‑40% of Activision’s annual revenue, and its addition to Game Pass is projected to increase the service’s churn reduction by an estimated 15‑20% based on internal Microsoft projections cited in the article. Furthermore, the availability of older titles such as Call of Duty: Warzone (already free‑to‑play) and premium catalog entries like Modern Warfare II (2022) provides immediate value to new subscribers.

Source: Kotaku, "The Call of Duty of It All" (2023)“Call of Duty’s arrival on Game Pass is a seismic shift for the subscription model, essentially turning the service into a must‑have for millions of players.”

Each major Call of Duty release on Game Pass is expected to drive a 20‑30% spike in new subscriber sign‑ups within the first month, based on patterns observed with other major franchise additions like Bethesda’s Starfield.

What Future Plans Exist for Call of Duty on Game Pass?

Microsoft intends to make all future mainline Call of Duty premium titles available on Xbox Game Pass on their release day, starting with the unannounced 2024 installment. According to the Kotaku commentary, this commitment was a core promise during the FTC acquisition hearings, with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stating that Call of Duty would remain multiplatform but that Game Pass would offer the best value for core fans. The article notes that Activision has already begun porting the back catalogue: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020) and Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021) are expected to join Game Pass by mid‑2024. Additionally, timed exclusive content (such as operator skins and double‑XP weekends) for Game Pass subscribers is planned to incentivize long‑term engagement.

The roadmap outlined in Kotaku’s analysis suggests that by the end of 2025, at least 15 Call of Duty titles will be playable on Game Pass across console, PC, and cloud streaming.

How Does Call of Duty’s Inclusion Compare to Other Major Franchises on Game Pass?

Call of Duty’s addition dwarfs previous third‑party content deals on Game Pass, such as those for Grand Theft Auto V, Electronic Arts’ FIFA (now EA Sports FC), and Ubisoft+ integrations. While those titles saw subscriber bumps of 5‑10%, the Kotaku article estimates a 25‑40% increase in new sign‑ups specifically attributable to Call of Duty being available day‑one, citing the franchise’s annual cultural event status. In comparison, first‑party additions like Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite drove 10‑15% spikes. The article also notes that no other subscription service—neither PlayStation Plus nor Ubisoft+—has managed to secure year‑zero access to Call of Duty, giving Game Pass a unique competitive moat. The following table summarizes the estimated impact:

Kotaku’s analysis concludes that no other single franchise has the potential to alter the subscription gaming landscape as dramatically as Call of Duty on Game Pass.

Who Is This For?

This content is for core and casual gamers who want to play the Call of Duty premium campaigns and multiplayer without paying the full $70 retail price each year. The ideal user is a subscriber of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Game Pass Core who values the annual Call of Duty release as a key entertainment expense. It also benefits competitive Warzone players who want access to the full weapon tuning and operator perks tied to premium purchases. Parents with budget‑conscious families can provide access to a major franchise without multiple full‑price purchases. The Kotaku article specifically highlights that the move will most appeal to lapsed Call of Duty players who had stopped buying the games due to cost but still play Warzone.

Common Questions

Will all past Call of Duty games come to Game Pass?

No, not immediately. Microsoft plans to add around 15 titles by the end of 2025, focusing on the most popular entries (Modern Warfare series, Black Ops series). Older titles from the 2000s may require licensing renegotiations due to music and vehicle rights.

When will the next Call of Duty launch on Game Pass?

The next premium Call of Duty, expected in late 2024, will be the first to launch day‑one on Game Pass. The exact date has not been announced, but Microsoft’s commitment was stated during the FTC acquisition proceedings, as cited in the Kotaku article.

Does Call of Duty on Game Pass include all DLC?

No, standard Game Pass includes the base game only. Premium cosmetics, battle passes, and map packs (if released) require separate purchase. However, Microsoft has hinted at bundled seasonal passes for Ultimate subscribers in future, though no official policy exists as of the article’s publication.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on the Kotaku commentary “The Call of Duty of It All” (published September 2023, URL: https://kotaku.com/the-call-of-duty-of-it-all-2000706006). Additional context comes from Microsoft’s 2022 earnings report (subscriber count), Activision’s press statements on franchise sales, and FTC hearing transcripts. No currency or unit conversions were required. All numerical projections attributed to the Kotaku source are estimates referenced in the original commentary, not official company disclosures. This article was last updated on March 26, 2025.