Xbox To Cut Back On First-Party Day One Releases In Controversial Move

Microsoft may be cutting back on certain Day 1 releases for first-party Xbox Game Pass games, it’s claimed.

Xbox Game Pass has been a bastion of accessibility for gamers on a tight budget, allowing them to access a wide range of games for a small monthly fee.

From first-party games like Halo Infinite and Gears 5, to third-party and indie extravaganzas like It Takes Two and Hollow Knight: Silksong, there’s a good chance that users have played it all.

Day 1 releases on the more expensive tier, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, remains a big reason why the platform has been so popular over the past decade.

It appears that Microsoft may be cutting back on Day 1 releases for certain games, though, according to new claims by journalist Jez Corden (via Pure Xbox).

Call of Duty Black Ops 7, Activision

On The Xbox Two podcast, Corden responded to a comment suggesting that Xbox Game Pass would be less of a priority for Microsoft in the next generation, with the company moving into a more niche and PC-focused business plan.

“Maybe. I mean, it'll be interesting to see if they take Call of Duty out of Game Pass this year, which is a possibility from what I've heard,” he said.

Corden adds that: “I think it'll kind of reveal some of the cracks in the strategy possibly, but I don't know.”

Could Call Of Duty Be Removed From Xbox Game Pass Day 1 Releases?

It seems like this could mean Call of Duty is on the chopping block for having a major presence on Xbox Game Pass, when just a few years back, this was exactly the reason Microsoft wanted to acquire Activision Blizzard.

It could be interesting to see what Microsoft does to bolster up its first-party library by potentially limiting the games that come to Xbox Game Pass as Day 1 titles.

Last year’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 reportedly underperformed compared to several previous games in the series.

A lot of this was likely due to poor reviews and stronger competition from Battlefield 6 and ARC Raiders, but it’s also very likely that many players who would have ended up buying the game instead opted to play it on Xbox Game Pass.

The next Call of Duty, expected to release in either October or November later this year, will likely be announced at some point during the summer.

It’s believed that the game will be a continuation of the Modern Warfare reboot series and will be primarily developed by Infinity Ward.

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