According to industry analyst Mat Piscatella, on October 28, 2024 (the Monday after the game's launch), 52% of active Xbox Series X|S players in the US launched Call of Duty HQ, which includes Black Ops 6. This is an all-time high for the Call of Duty franchise on Xbox platforms.
"On October 28th, 52% of active XBS players and 34% of active PS5 players did so. Both were all-time highs for Call of Duty HQ.
Prior to the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the previous high for US daily active player engagement for Call of Duty HQ on Xbox Series came on August 31st, 2024 (34% of daily actives)."
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella confirmed that Black Ops 6 was the "biggest Call of Duty release ever," setting records for day-one players and Xbox Game Pass subscriber additions on launch day. The game's success wasn't limited to Xbox, as unit sales on PlayStation and Steam were also up over 60% year-over-year.
This high engagement rate is particularly notable as it marks the first time Call of Duty has been available on Xbox Game Pass at launch, following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The game's success demonstrates the franchise's continued popularity and the potential impact of its inclusion in the Game Pass service.