Highlights
- Activision Blizzard acknowledges the possibility of its games coming to Xbox Game Pass once the acquisition is finalized, but it doesn't have specific plans for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 or Diablo 4 to come to the service this year.
- Activision Blizzard expects to start working with Xbox to bring its games to Game Pass as soon as the deal closes.
- The exact timing of Activision Blizzard games on Xbox Game Pass is uncertain, as plans may change.
Activision Blizzard is ready to start discussing potential plans for games, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Diablo 4, to come to Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been a tedious process, but the deal is finally close to completion. Activision Blizzard isn't able to say anything with certainty until the deal is finalized, but with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launching in a month, it's time to start talking about what could end up on Xbox Game Pass and when.
It remains a key priority for Microsoft to continue expanding its Xbox Game Pass subscription service with additional popular games. That's a significant reason why Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media, including Bethesda, in 2021. Microsoft finalized the acquisition of Bethesda on March 9, 2021, and then two days later announced that 20 titles from Bethesda Games would be available on Xbox Game Pass. The turnaround was faster than expected but was not a surprise.
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With Microsoft's history of quickly putting acquired games onto Xbox Game Pass, Activision Blizzard has released a statement regarding the possibility of its game library doing the same. In a message shared on social media, Activision Blizzard acknowledged the realistic possibility of its games coming to Xbox Game Pass once the acquisition is finalized. Sating worries that new and recently released games may come to Xbox Game Pass immediately, Activision Blizzard says it anticipates "adding games into Game Pass sometime in the course of next year."
To be more specific, Activision Blizzard states clearly that it doesn't have plans to bring either Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 or Diablo 4 to Xbox Game Pass this year. The language Activision Blizzard uses is important, though. It says it has no plans, which leaves room for plans to change. It mentions Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Diablo 4 specifically, but not other games. And while it does say it anticipates bringing its titles to Xbox Game Pass in the course of next year, it also says it expects to start working with Xbox to bring its games to Game Pass as soon as the deal closes.
It appears if it was entirely up to Activision Blizzard, then bringing its games to Xbox Game Pass wouldn't occur until 2024. That may be something it's discussed with Microsoft already, but can't say for certain before the deal closes. It may just be Activision Blizzard's view, however. Microsoft could very well choose to release any game on Xbox Game Pass the day the Activision Blizzard acquisition closes or any day after.
While it's entirely possible that Activision Blizzard's acquisition by Microsoft will be further postponed, current speculation is that the deal will be closed on October 13. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launches on November 10, so Microsoft will hopefully be able to confirm official plans before players have to make a final purchasing decision. It does seem like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, as well as Diablo 4 and other games, are inevitably coming to Xbox Game Pass, though. That will hopefully be enough for prospective Activision Blizzard game buyers to make the decision between purchasing now or waiting and subscribing to Xbox Game Pass.