Overview
- The integration of Activision Blizzard games into Xbox Game Pass has progressed slowly since the acquisition by Microsoft.
- Although new titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 are available on launch day, many older classics remain absent from the service.
- As of now, no official explanation has been provided for the sluggish rollout of these titles.
Since Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023, the addition of Titles to Xbox Game Pass has been unexpectedly gradual. The service has welcomed day-one releases such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, alongside a selection of other Activision games; however, this selection represents only a small fraction of the vast library that Activision Blizzard possesses. This limitation can be disappointing for subscribers eagerly anticipating more diversity in the gaming offerings on the platform.
Recent trends indicate that newer games from Activision are successfully debuting on Xbox Game Pass. Following Black Ops 6, leaks have confirmed that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 will also launch on the service on its release day. It’s likely that future entries in popular franchises will continue to follow this pattern. Despite these new entries, a significant number of classic Activision games remain unavailable, even a year after the acquisition was finalized.
Industry insider Tom Warren of The Verge shared insights into the delays concerning Activision Blizzard’s game presence on Xbox Game Pass during a discussion on the Xbox Two podcast. He noted that the process of incorporating older titles onto the platform can be intricate and time-consuming, regardless of the publisher involved. In fact, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer had previously indicated that it would take time to fully integrate Activision titles into Game Pass. Some of the delays may still stem from the need for modernization and updates, such as adapting older games to support features like cloud saving—an effort that requires significant development resources.
Modernization and Licensing Challenges for Activision Blizzard on Xbox Game Pass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yhPA2yCN7Ehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yhPA2yCN7E
Warren further mentioned that licensing issues could also be a significant barrier to the timely addition of Activision Blizzard games to the service. Although Microsoft now owns the company, legacy contracts with voice actors and other creatives may require updates or negotiations before the titles can be made available on Xbox Game Pass. While these speculations highlight potential issues, they suggest that Microsoft is actively addressing complex challenges in integrating these games. The acquisition has positively impacted Xbox Gaming’s revenue, showcasing a 51% increase in the quarter following the deal. Furthermore, the successful launch of Call of Duty on Game Pass underscores the potential profit from these assets, indicating that any delays are likely not due to a lack of confidence in their market viability.
While the reasons behind the delayed integration of Activision Blizzard titles into Xbox Game Pass remain under discussion, progress is evident as more games are being added. For instance, the Blizzard Arcade Collection, featuring five titles, was introduced to Xbox Game Pass in March 2021. Moving forward, fans can only wait and anticipate what’s next in terms of classic games joining the lineup.