Microsoft is closing a great Xbox Game Pass deal right before Black Ops 6

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Important takeaways

  • Microsoft removed $1 Xbox Game Pass trial option for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launch.
  • Xbox Game Pass is still a good game deal but has been facing some backlash lately.
  • Fans are unhappy when Microsoft cancels the $1 trial, limiting access to Black Ops 6.



Microsoft has removed access to a potentially useful option from Xbox Game Pass less than two weeks before the launch of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The Xbox Game Pass subscription option may have given budget-conscious gamers a chance to play Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 for much less than its asking price.

Despite some unpopular changes to Xbox Game Pass in recent months, including a Game Pass price hike that drew disapproval from government regulators, the service remains one of the best deals in gaming. For a relatively low monthly fee, gamers can enjoy a huge library of premium titles on a variety of platforms, including Xbox consoles, PCs and on mobile via Xbox Cloud Gaming. Some of these titles include the biggest releases of the year, including Call of Duty franchise, thanks to Microsoft's acquisition of Activision and other major players in the game publishing space.


Activision reveals PC requirements and launch times for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 PC requirements and launch times revealed

Activision and Treyarch reveal the PC requirements and launch times for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 as the game's release date approaches.

Unfortunately, Microsoft seems to be making the deal even less appealing. According to a post by Call of Duty news account CharlieIntel, Microsoft quietly declined the option to pay just one dollar to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass on consoles for 14 days. This means that for new and lapsed members, only the Core, Standard and Ultimate Xbox Game Pass subscription levels are available, without a free or discounted trial option.


Xbox Game Pass $1 subscription deal was removed by Microsoft before Black Ops 6


The $1 Xbox Game Pass subscription option could have represented an incredible deal for gamers looking for a brief opportunity with the year's biggest new shooter. In theory, you could buy a 14-day subscription and before it expired you played through Black Ops 6 campaign, and even enjoyed some multiplayer. Now, a player on Xbox consoles who wants to play Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at launch must pay the full purchase price of $70 or subscribe to the full Ultimate tier for $20 per month.

The move was met with swift disapproval online, as fans already unhappy with Xbox Game Pass price increases and changes to their rights saw it as yet another “money grab” by Microsoft. Other fans were more pragmatic, saying the move made business sense for Microsoft, which likely wants to maximize revenue from Black Ops 6s launch period. A few others pointed out that the removal of the $1 subscription may not have affected things in any way, as only Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers get access to day one releases. A $1 subscription period would likely have only been for the standard tier, which would not have had access Black Ops 6 on launch day.


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