Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is so bad that even Game Pass doesn't help keep players in the shooter
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 set new records for the number of players on launch day and increased Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, but long-term engagement in the game is declining. Despite a good start and growing sales on PlayStation and Steam, it is becoming increasingly difficult to retain players.
Here's What We Know
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that Black Ops 6 was the biggest launch in the history of Call of Duty, setting a record for the number of players on the first day and attracting a significant number of new Game Pass subscribers. This was the first game in the franchise to be released simultaneously with the Game Pass, which significantly expanded the audience. Sales on PlayStation and Steam also increased by more than 60% year-on-year.
However, according to The Game Business, the number of active players in March 2025 was 20.6 million, which is less than in March 2024 (20.8 million) and significantly lower than in March 2023 (22.4 million), when Call of Duty was not yet available on Game Pass. This indicates a downward trend in long-term interest.
Another interesting detail is that while Xbox was the leader in terms of player activity when Black Ops 6 was released, by March 2025, PlayStation had overtaken it with 33% of active users compared to Xbox's 32.5%. This indicates that even with Game Pass, it is difficult to keep the lead.
Source: The Game Business
