Anticipation has been building around the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard deal, especially now that it will close on October 13. Many speculate that, as soon as the deal closes, we’ll see titles like Diablo 4 appear on the Xbox Game Pass almost immediately. Despite the hopes, Blizzard Entertainment just made it clear: Diablo 4 will not be gracing the Game Pass in the immediate future.
Activision Blizzard recently addressed these swirling rumors and it’s not good news. In a statement shared across its social media platforms, they highlighted, “While we do not have plans to put Modern Warfare III or Diablo IV into Game Pass this year, once the deal closes, we expect to start working with Xbox to bring our titles to more players around the world.
This indicates a direction towards expanding Diablo 4’s accessibility but on a longer timeline. This strategy by Activision Blizzard is a calculated move. With Diablo 4 having raked in over $666 million in game sales since June, the company will want to maximize its revenue from direct sales before transitioning to a subscription-based platform. This same sentiment applies for their other major release, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, which comes out in November.
It’s awesome to see anticipation building for Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III. As we continue to work toward regulatory approval of the Microsoft deal, we’ve been getting some questions whether our upcoming and recently launched games will be available via Game Pass.
While we…
— Activision Blizzard (@ATVI_AB) October 9, 2023
The dynamic between Activision Blizzard and Microsoft post-acquisition is of tremendous interest. Activision Blizzard has said many times before that Diablo 4 heading into the Game Pass is off the table. The latest statement, however, suggests that it’s only a matter of time. Furthermore, once the ink dries on the deal, Microsoft will likely have the final say in the game’s distribution, eschewing a more collaborative approach. There’s a clip online from an interview between IGN and Microsoft Gaming head, Phil Spencer, that all but confirms this.
So, while Blizzard might prefer NOT to add Diablo 4 to the Xbox Game Pass soon if at all, it might not have any say in it.
Diablo 4’s journey since its release has been monumental. Recognized as Blizzard’s fastest-selling title, it drew over 10 million players in its launch month alone. The allure of Diablo 4 is undeniable, and its eventual addition to the Game Pass will undeniably boost the subscription service’s value. But for now, players will need to exercise patience.
There is, however, a silver lining. Given Microsoft’s intent to “offer as many Activision Blizzard games as we can within Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass”, once the deal is finalized, players might witness a surge of titles from Activision Blizzard’s extensive catalog.
While older titles might spearhead this influx, flagship games like Diablo 4 will likely follow suit.
If nothing else, this should solve the declining interest in Diablo 4 following subsequent disappointing updates.
Outside of its soon-to-be-closed deal with Microsoft, Blizzard has made moves to diversify its game’s accessibility, with titles like Overwatch 2 now on Steam with Diablo 4 set to join the lineup soon. It remains to be seen if this is enough to help revive interest in Diablo 4. But, there’s a chance that its arrival on Steam alongside the Season 2 update will bring players back, even if it risks drawing in enough negative reviews to give Activision Blizzard the unfortunate distinction of being the only publisher to have the three-worst-reviewed games on Steam.
