Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Leads October Sales, Boosts Xbox Game Pass

Every month, the analytics group Circana provides fresh insights into the US video game market, shedding light on both hardware and software sales. In October 2024, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 quickly emerged as the top-selling game, according to their latest reports. Not only did it dominate the month, but it also secured the position as the third best-selling game of the entire year in the US so far. What’s remarkable is that Black Ops 6 also made a significant splash on Xbox Game Pass, being available from day one.

As for the hardware industry, the PlayStation 5 continued its reign as the leading console in October, followed by the Xbox Series X|S. This success comes amid a year where console sales have seen a noticeable decline.

In anticipation of its launch, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has been one of the most eagerly awaited titles of 2024. Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, this installment has achieved spectacular sales figures. Mat Piscatella, executive director and advisor at Circana, shared on Bluesky that in just its first two weeks, Black Ops 6’s sales were up by 23% compared to last year’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Marking a first for the franchise, Black Ops 6 was available immediately on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. This aligns with Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard King. Due in large part to Game Pass, spending on non-mobile video game subscriptions rose by 16% for the month, Piscatella noted.

Turning to the console market, the PlayStation 5 was the leading seller in both units and revenue. Trailing it were the Xbox Series X|S consoles, with the Nintendo Switch sitting in third place. Across the board, video game hardware sales dropped 23% year-over-year, with declines of 38%, 20%, and 18% for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, respectively.

Below, you can explore more detailed rankings of top-selling games for both October 2024 and the year-to-date. Keep in mind that this isn’t the full picture, as some developers and publishers, such as Focus Entertainment with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, choose not to disclose all digital sales data.

For October 2024, the Circana sales charts highlight the 20 best-selling games in the U.S., kicking off with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and including other favorites like Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero and Silent Hill 2 (2024).

Looking at sales for the year so far, EA Sports College Football 25 leads the pack, followed closely by Helldivers 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Other top contenders include Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023).

Interestingly, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella acknowledged the monumental launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, pointing out that it spurred a record increase in Xbox Game Pass subscribers on a single day. This development suggests that Microsoft may have found an optimal balance. While Game Pass saw substantial growth, PlayStation’s unit sales remained robust.

However, the tough landscape for console hardware continues. Despite the Xbox Series X outselling the Xbox Series S last month, challenges linger across the board. It will be interesting to see if the upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro gives Sony an edge in the November results, but overall concerns aren’t fading anytime soon.