Microsoft has removed the $1 Xbox Game Pass trial ahead of the release of the new Call of Duty

Microsoft has canceled the 14-day trial period of Game Pass for $1 ahead of the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6The game is set to launch on October 25, mirroring the strategy used prior to the release of Starfield last year.

Black Ops 6 will be the first game in the Call of Duty franchise to launch on Game Pass on its release day. This follows a year after Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. Previously, Diablo 4 and Modern Warfare 3 were added to the service, with StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft 2: Campaign Collection expected in November.

The release of Black Ops 6 on Game Pass poses a risky move for Microsoft. The company anticipates that the popularity of Call of Duty will boost subscriber numbers and profits, but this could also lead to a decline in full game sales. Xbox leadership claims that having the game on Game Pass could enhance its sales, yet some publishers are skeptical about this. For example, former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has always opposed releasing Call of Duty on subscription services.

Source: IGN