Game Pass increases in price after million-dollar losses due to Call of Duty, according to Bloomberg

Game Pass increases in price after million-dollar losses due to Call of Duty, according to Bloomberg.

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A new report published by Bloomberg puts the spotlight on Xbox’s finances after the acquisition of Activision. According to sources cited by the media outlet, the lack of traditional sales of Call of Duty on consoles and PC would have resulted in over $300 million in losses for Microsoft during the last fiscal year.

The reason is clear: by including the franchise in Xbox Game Pass, direct sales revenue was drastically reduced, creating a void that the company is trying to compensate for with other strategies. In this context, the recent price increase of Game Pass is framed, a measure that has generated debate among players and would be directly related to this financial adjustment.

Xbox seeks profitability beyond Call of Duty

According to Bloomberg’s information, Microsoft’s financial director, Amy Hood, would have asked the Xbox team to find new ways to increase profits, a request that reflects the internal pressure to make Game Pass a more sustainable business in the long term.

Among current and former employees consulted, it is highlighted that the strategy is under constant review, with a focus on balancing the value of the service with the need to generate sufficient revenue. With Call of Duty as part of the subscription catalog, the company faces the challenge of combining the immediate appeal of attracting players with the loss of revenue from traditional sales.

For now, Xbox maintains its firm commitment to Game Pass as the cornerstone of its model, although price adjustments and the search for new formulas suggest that the service is still going through a phase of financial consolidation.