Xbox Game Pass won't be getting Activision Blizzard games anytime soon

18 October 2023 , 11:05

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Phil Spencer has confirmed that Activision Blizzard titles won't hit Xbox Game Pass until 2024 (Image: Microsoft)

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has confirmed that Activision Blizzard titles won't be appearing on Xbox Game Pass for a while yet.

Now that the Microsoft Activision Deal has finally gone through, the next question on Xbox owner's minds is: when are Activision Blizzard games coming to Xbox Game Pass? Considering Bethesda titles started appearing on Xbox Game Pass mere days after Microsoft bought Bethesda, many were expecting a big drop in the near future, but it seems like that won't be the case.

Speaking on the Xbox Podcast, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer acknowledged that while the Bethesda games arrived fairly soon after the deal closed, it won't be the case with Activision Blizzard. Spencer claims that this is mainly down to uncertainty of the deal going through in the first place. With Bethesda, the companies could pre-plan a drop of Xbox Game Pass titles, but as even Spencer himself was unsure if the Microsoft Activision deal would go through until the CMA reversed their decision, these plans haven't been put in place.

"I would love it if there was some kind of secret celebration drop that's coming in the next couple of weeks," said Spencer, before affirming that there won't be. He also mentions that if a big Activision Blizzard Xbox Game Pass drop was coming, the company would be telling people about it.

The Xbox boss also goes on to acknowledge a statement from the Activision Twitter account that said these titles would begin dropping on Xbox Game Pass in 2024, saying "I think that's accurate."

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Xbox game stack

On one hand, I get the disappointment that Activision Blizzard games won't be on Xbox Game Pass right away, but have you seen Xbox Game Pass this year? Games like Sea of Stars, Dead Space, Like a Dragon: Ishin!, Like a Dragon Gaiden, Forza Motorsport, and even time sinks like Starfield! There's so much out there right now, more than enough to pass the time until Activision games start pouring onto Xbox Game Pass.

As much as I would enjoy another place to play Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, do we really need a massive Activision Blizzard drop on Xbox Game Pass right now? I'd say probably not. Plus, Phil Spencer said 2024, which is not actually that far away, so don't stress, there won't be too much longer to wait.

Scott McCrae