In a significant announcement, Activision Blizzard has unveiled its preliminary plans for the Xbox Game Pass, following the impending closure of the Microsoft acquisition deal. The gaming giant has indicated that while some of its marquee titles might not make an immediate appearance on the Game Pass this year, the door remains open for potential inclusions in 2024.
The Microsoft-Activision Blizzard Deal
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a deal that has been making headlines for a while, is anticipated to conclude this Friday. This merger is one of the most significant in the gaming industry, with a valuation of $69 billion. The acquisition has been the subject of various regulatory reviews and court battles, with the deadline for the deal's completion set for October 18.
What's Coming to the Game Pass?
Activision Blizzard took to X/Twitter to address the growing anticipation and queries from the gaming community. The statement read, "As we continue to work toward regulatory approval of the Microsoft deal, we’ve been getting some questions whether our upcoming and recently launched games will be available via Game Pass."
The company clarified that while there are no immediate plans to introduce titles like "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III" and "Diablo IV" to the Game Pass this year, collaborations with Xbox are on the horizon. The statement further elaborated, "Once the deal closes, we expect to start working with Xbox to bring our titles to more players around the world. And we anticipate that we would begin adding games into Game Pass sometime in the course of next year."
Diablo IV on Game Pass in 2024?
While "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III" has a current agreement that prevents its inclusion on the Game Pass until January 2025, "Diablo IV" faces no such restrictions. This leaves the possibility of "Diablo IV," along with several other titles from Activision Blizzard's vast catalog, making their way to the Game Pass in 2024.
It's worth noting that Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda led to a significant influx of that publisher's games on the Game Pass, including popular franchises like Doom, Elder Scrolls, and Fallout.
Conclusion
The Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal and its implications for the Xbox Game Pass have been subjects of immense speculation and anticipation. While the immediate future might not see some of the blockbuster titles on the Game Pass, the subsequent years promise a richer and more diverse gaming experience for Xbox users.
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