The recent price hike and restructuring of Xbox Game Pass stirred the gaming community in all the wrong ways. With Game Pass Ultimate now $30/month and PC Game Pass rising to $16.49, fans were asking if they’ll still get that day-one release of COD: Black Ops 7? The good news: Yes.
As always, players with Game Pass Ultimate on console or PC Game Pass will still get to enjoy day-one access to Black Ops 7. This shows that the price increase doesn’t block or delay the game for subscribers.
COD: Black Ops 7 Fans Can Take A Sigh of Relief
For anyone worried about the timing of Black Ops 7’s release, there’s no need to panic. Players who have enjoyed the yearly day-one release (after the acquisition) of COD titles on Game Pass will continue to get the same access, both on consoles and PC.
While the recent price hike raised many eyebrows for all the good reasons, day-one Game Pass titles are still a thing. This means that the core appeal of the pass: instant access to new titles, remains fully intact. But with the increase in price, the value and worth have decreased a lot.
It’s also worth noting that Ultimate now also offers additional perks, like the Fortnite Crew, which is $12/month subscription in its own right, as well as Ubisoft Plus Classics. Also, play and earn $100 in the store with the rewards.
However, these things don’t add extra value if you are not a hardcore Fortnite player or don’t buy fully priced games on a regular basis, making the Ultimate tier look overpriced and not worth.
So, yes, Black Ops 7 will still be available on launch day, but the price change may make some players question whether Game Pass Ultimate is worth it now, particularly for console users who aren’t interested in the added perks.
What the Price Hike Means for Xbox Game Pass Users
While COD: Black Ops 7’s day-one access is safe, the price increase does have an impact on overall subscription value. Even though the Ultimate tier remains the worst offender, the other tiers do bring value if you don’t care about day-1 games.
Like the premium tier, which remains at $15/month (formerly Standard), it now adds PC game access, including classic titles like Diablo and Fallout, to the catalogue. And the first-party new releases promised to arrive within a year, but Call of Duty titles are excluded.
As for the Essential tier, which remains at $10/month (formerly Core), it has now become fully focused on providing the online multiplayer with some added bonus of PC games. Additionally, all the tiers have Cloud Gaming included. Yes, even the essential tier.
In short, COD: Black Ops 7 fans can breathe easy as Ultimate and PC Game Pass users still get day-one access. For gamers, the decision now comes down to whether the new perks and higher prices match their gaming habits and priorities.
Would you stick with Game Pass for day-one access to COD, or buy games individually instead? Let us know in the comments below.
