Recent revelations indicate that Microsoft's decision to include Call of Duty on Xbox Game Pass may have resulted in approximately $300 million in lost sales revenue. This significant financial impact comes to light just as Microsoft announced substantial price increases for its popular gaming subscription service.

Xbox Game Pass has recently faced significant challenges, with the announced price increase generating such negative feedback that subscribers overwhelmed the service's website attempting to cancel their memberships. While the price adjustment accompanies new game additions and enhanced benefits, the $10 monthly increase for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate appears to have crossed a threshold for many dedicated players. Beyond subscriber dissatisfaction, the service faces additional financial considerations.

According to Bloomberg reports citing insider sources, Microsoft potentially forfeited over $300 million in Call of Duty sales across PC and console platforms by making the franchise available through Xbox Game Pass. The information originated from an anonymous former employee familiar with the matter. Many gamers apparently found the subscription model more appealing than purchasing individual titles, particularly with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 becoming the first series entry to launch directly on Game Pass. Despite this apparent revenue shortfall, Black Ops 6 demonstrated strong performance on PlayStation and PC platforms, likely mitigating some of the financial impact.

While these figures remain unconfirmed through official channels, if accurate, they may have influenced the recently announced Xbox Game Pass price adjustments. All active subscribers will transition to the new pricing structure by their next billing cycle, with the full implementation expected by early November. This timing coincides with the anticipated release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Should subscribers continue opting for Game Pass access over direct purchases, as occurred with Black Ops 6, the increased subscription costs could help balance potential revenue losses.

It's important to note that alongside the Game Pass Ultimate price increase, the service has substantially expanded its library, growing from 492 available games in July 2024 to 838 titles by October 2025. The Ultimate tier further enhanced its value proposition by incorporating Fortnite Crew benefits. However, the crucial question remains whether subscribers will perceive these enhancements as sufficient justification for the higher monthly costs.