Phil Spencer has shed light on recent queries and concerns regarding the anticipated drop of Activision Blizzard games into Xbox Game Pass. In his recent address on the Official Xbox Podcast, Spencer clarified that games from the newly-acquired gaming titan will not appear on Xbox Game Pass until 2024.
Most fans had high expectations for the arrival of Activision Blizzard games on its popular subscription platform. When Microsoft closed the deal and acquired ZeniMax Media, including its many subsidiaries like Bethesda in 2021, a plethora of Bethesda games quickly landed on Game Pass, happening merely days post-acquisition. Fans naturally surmised that a similar approach would be taken with the Activision Blizzard titles, especially following earlier leaks.
However, Spencer expressed the practical challenges faced in bringing Activision Blizzard’s extensive catalog of games to the Game Pass, stating:
The regulatory process took so long… that we weren’t able to get in and work with the Activision Blizzard on that back catalog work.
Spencer further pointed out the extensive regulatory process and uncertainties they encountered up until the very final stages of the acquisition, making it nearly impossible to initiate the groundwork on integrating Activision Blizzard games into the Xbox ecosystem.
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.
