Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will not be available on Xbox Game Pass when it launches.

Activision announced that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will not be included in Game Pass on its release day, unlike the previous two games in the series. The company is encouraging players to pre-order the game for early access, stating that it will not be available on Xbox Game Pass this year.

The choice represents a significant shift in Microsoft’s approach to the Call of Duty series. Following the purchase of Activision Blizzard, the company released Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Xbox Game Pass upon its launch in 2024. The next year, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 followed suit by premiering directly on the service.

Modern Warfare 4 will be the initial main release of the franchise to not be part of Game Pass following Microsoft’s acquisition of the publisher.

Microsoft had already indicated the shift.

Modern Warfare 4’s absence from Game Pass is not unexpected. Microsoft confirmed earlier this year that future games in the series will not be available on the subscription service. At the same time, the company announced a Game Pass price reduction, suggesting a change in their business approach.

The new Call of Duty games are expected to be added to the catalog shortly after release, with availability for subscribers possibly taking up to a year.

Microsoft has not publicly disclosed the specific reasons for the change, but experts suggest that it is connected to the financial success of the franchise. After the launch of Black Ops 6, reports revealed that offering a Call of Duty game on Game Pass resulted in a significant decrease in traditional sales, as many players chose to subscribe instead of purchasing the game.

The company has determined that the financial rewards do not justify continuing a franchise with significant sales potential, despite the growth in subscribers and engagement in the Xbox ecosystem.

Modern Warfare 4 will be released in October.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is set to launch on October 23 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. Players interested in playing at the release will have to purchase the game.

Please provide the text that you would like me to paraphrase.