Activision Blizzard expects to add games to Game Pass next year

Last January, Microsoft executed its largest-ever acquisition, procuring gaming titan Activision Blizzard for a staggering $68.7 billion, at $95 per share. This monumental transaction appears to be in its final stages, with reports suggesting Microsoft’s aspiration to conclude the purchase by October 13th.

Recently, Activision Blizzard expressed satisfaction on their social media platforms regarding the forthcoming promotion of ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III’. In addition to addressing other game-related queries, the company confirmed that while there’s no immediate plan to incorporate ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III’ and ‘Diablo IV’ into Game Pass this year, upon completion of the Microsoft deal, players can anticipate intensified collaboration with Xbox, aiming to reach a more expansive global audience. It is projected that their titles will debut on Game Pass sometime next year.

While Activision Blizzard has remained reticent about which specific titles will grace the Game Pass, the ‘Call of Duty’ series is a plausible contender. This very inclusion was amongst the reasons Sony ardently resisted Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Earlier this year, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) vetoed the acquisition, citing concerns over Microsoft’s already dominant position in the cloud gaming realm and potential threats to market competition.

Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox operations, elucidated in an interview that contrary to popular belief, not all of Activision Blizzard’s games will instantaneously materialize on Game Pass post-acquisition. There remains a plethora of tasks to be undertaken, necessitating ample preparation. It seems, initially, Microsoft might exhibit a proclivity towards integrating some older titles.