Hopes Dashed for Early Activision Blizzard Games on Xbox Game Pass

Activision Blizzard's recent post on X further corroborated Spencer's comments, emphasizing that flagship titles such as Modern Warfare III and Diablo IV aren't gracing the Game Pass this year. While this addressed the newer releases, fans were still holding onto the hope of seeing older classics from the publisher. Sadly for them, Spencer's remarks have dashed these hopes.

The difference in the inclusion of Bethesda games as compared to Activision Blizzard ones is likely due to the particular circumstances surrounding each acquisition. Bethesda's integration into Game Pass was smoother because Microsoft's regulatory hurdles to overcome were fewer, enabling Microsoft to work in tandem with Bethesda's catalog well before the deal was formally sealed. In contrast, the Activision Blizzard acquisition, valued at an astounding $69 billion, was a complicated mess fraught with a myriad of legal and regulatory challenges from multiple countries. This inevitably caused delays and prevented Microsoft from getting a head start on catalog integration.

TLDR; Microsoft was too busy fending off regulatory bodies that it didn't have the time nor the energy to worry about how and when it will add Activision Blizzard's games to the Game Pass.

If it's any consolation, Spencer's acknowledgment of the fans' disappointment and his candidness is a demonstration of its commitment to transparency. "I know there will be some disappointment about that," Spencer remarked, referring to the delay in seeing Activision Blizzard titles on Game Pass. Despite this, he expressed his optimism and excitement for what the future holds, indicating that this acquisition was a long-term strategic move for Microsoft.

In essence, while Xbox and gaming enthusiasts may have to temper their immediate expectations, the future promises a rich integration of some of the gaming world's most coveted titles into the Xbox Game Pass. As Spencer conveyed, this is an acquisition with a long-term vision, with the true fruits of this merger set to benefit gamers in the years to come.

While Diablo 4 isn't coming to the Game Pass anytime soon, it's already available on Steam. Unfortunately, its next season, Season of Blood, has been delayed at the last minute due to technical concerns.