[Discussion] Call of Duty Expands to Xbox Cloud Gaming with Day-One Access for BO6

[Uncrowned Guard]

Xbox Cloud Gaming to Welcome Multiple Call of Duty Titles

A significant moment is on the horizon for fans of the popular military-themed video game franchise, Call of Duty, as three key titles get set to debut on Xbox Cloud Gaming. Most notably, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be making a groundbreaking appearance on the platform the moment the game is launched.

Strategic Subsequent Releases of Iconic Call of Duty Games

Microsoft delivered the exciting news, clarifying that Black Ops 6 will be accessible through Xbox Cloud Gaming's Beta mode for Game Pass Ultimate members directly from the release date. Furthermore, two additional Call of Duty titles, specifically Modern Warfare III and Warzone, will receive cloud support soon after, enhancing the scope of access for Game Pass Ultimate members. Notably, the simultaneous release of a Call of Duty game on the platform alongside its global launch is a major first for this widely acclaimed franchise, following Microsoft's high-profile acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

An Unprecedented Move Following Activision Blizzard Acquisition

This development is an interesting narrative twist, considering that Microsoft handed over cloud gaming permissions for Activision games to Ubisoft to facilitate approval of the acquisition by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The implication of this was that Black Ops 6 won't necessarily be included on Xbox Cloud Gaming. Meanwhile, other major Activision Blizzard King juggernauts, including Diablo 4, are yet to earn their spot on Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Enthusiasts anticipating the opportunity to play these Call of Duty titles via the cloud should be prepared to avail a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Once armed with a subscription, they'll be able to enjoy these titles on a broad range of devices including game consoles, PCs, mobile devices, select Samsung TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Meta Quest devices. An interesting perspective offered by Ashley McKissick, Corporate Vice President, Gaming Experiences & Platforms at Microsoft, is that this enables "even more ways to play Black Ops 6 starting on day one", a statement that encapsulates the general sentiment of anticipation among gamers.

Upon its release on October 25, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be playable across several platforms including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. In a trailblazing move for the series, it marks the first mainline Call of Duty game to be offered on Game Pass on the launch day itself. As the countdown to the debut of these significant additions to the Call of Duty franchise on Xbox Cloud Gaming begins, it is evident that we are in the midst of an evolution within the gaming landscape.

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