Microsoft recently sent shockwaves through the gaming industry when the company announced that it was acquiring Activision Blizzard for an eye-watering $68.7bn. The announcement sparked a range of debates and discussions, particularly for those who subscribe to Game Pass.
Microsoft's Game Pass service has been dubbed the "Netflix of gaming" by offering nearly 500 games for players to download and play, including day one releases that included Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, and Psychonauts 2 last year. Once Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard is finalized, Game Pass will almost certainly be receiving a wave of new games, so we've decided to list some Activision titles that we would love to see hit the service.
6 Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
The Crash Bandicoot IP has been one of the most interesting points of discussion regarding the acquisition. Crash Bandicoot was originally pushed as an unofficial mascot of PlayStation, who Sony wanted to be the leading face of their console and directly compete against Nintendo's Mario and Sega's Sonic. The fact that Crash Bandicoot may now be exclusive to non-PlayStation systems is ironic, to say the least.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time was released in September 2020 and finally fulfilled the wishes of fans who had been desperately wanting a new platforming release in the same vein as the original trilogy. Crash 4 didn't disappoint, offering a fantastic modern take on the classic Crash formula with plenty of new gameplay mechanics and modes to enjoy.
5 Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time isn't the only Crash game that we'd love to see on Game Pass, as Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled would also make a great addition. Although the game would be welcomed with open arms on the console version of Game Pass, it's the PC iteration of Game Pass that would benefit the most.
Unfortunately, 2019's Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled still hasn't been released on PC, which is odd considering both Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy has had PC releases. A day-one release of Crash Team Racing on Game Pass would go down extremely well with PC players, especially because there aren't many other great kart racing games available on PC today.
4 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2
From one series that was recently given a new lease of life to another, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 was released in September 2020 and is a remake of the first two Tony Hawk's Pro Skater games, the second of which is still the joint-second highest-rated game on Metacritic.
Vicarious Visions did an excellent job with the remake by modernizing the skateboarding games while ensuring that they stuck to their nostalgic roots and kept everything that made the originals so beloved. Vicarious Visions' efforts didn't go unnoticed, as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 won the Best Sports/Racing Game at The Game Awards 2020.
3 Spyro: Reignited Trilogy
Spyro The Dragon is another one of PlayStation's former mascot platformers who may have just become an Xbox and PC exclusive. The purple dragon returned in November 2018 after a 10-year hiatus, with an N.Sane Trilogy-like remake of Spyro's PlayStation 1 trilogy.
The remake was well-received, and after numerous references to Spyro in Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, excitement grew that a new game was on its way. Unfortunately, that new game has yet to be announced, and rumors about its development are virtually non-existent. If Spyro: Reignited Trilogy was to release on Game Pass and do well, it may encourage Microsoft to give the green light to a new game.
2 Prototype
Like Spyro: Reignited Trilogy, Prototype predominantly makes this list as it could inspire a revitalization of the series if enough people play it on Game Pass.
Prototype is an open-world action-adventure game that was initially released in June 2009. The game was developed by Radical Entertainment and put players in control of a shapeshifter named Alex Mercer. Prototype was a commercial success, so a sequel was released a few years later. Unfortunately, this sequel struggled to sell outside of its first few weeks, leading to a downsizing of the development team and a premature end to the series.
The Prototype IP is perfectly suited to the modern style of third-person open-world adventures, so a release on Game Pass could be enough to get the ball rolling on a new release.
1 Every Call Of Duty Game
Of all the many debates, discussions, and questions that have been asked about the future of Activision Blizzard following Microsoft's acquisition announcement, the most prominent has been about what happens to the Call of Duty series. Unconfirmed rumors are already flying around about the game's position on exclusivity, a potential one-year release break, and more.
For Game Pass users, the very realistic prospect of having every single Call of Duty game coming to the platform has spread excitement like wildfire. Although even just the latest game, Call of Duty: Vanguard, would be a great enough addition, it would be fantastic to have the entire Call of Duty catalog to choose from.