Microsoft Considers Excluding 2026 Call of Duty from Game Pass

Microsoft is weighing the possibility of excluding the next Call of Duty game from Xbox Game Pass day-one availability, a move that could mark a significant shift in its subscription strategy. The potential change, reportedly under consideration for the 2026 title, stems from concerns that including the blockbuster franchise has disrupted its traditional sales model and strained Game Pass revenue.

Industry reports highlight comments from Jez Corden, a Windows Central journalist, who discussed the matter during a recent podcast and livestream. Corden indicated he has heard that Microsoft may pull Call of Duty from Game Pass this year, stating, "It'll be interesting to see if they take Call of Duty out of Game Pass this year, which is a possibility from what I've heard." He added that the inclusion of such a high-profile title creates challenges for the service, explaining, "Game Pass has disrupted Call of Duty's business model in a pretty negative way." According to Corden, major releases like Call of Duty consume a large share of subscription revenue through internal allocation formulas, leaving less funding for ongoing content updates and risking subscriber churn.