The gaming industry has been rife with anticipation, closely following Microsoft's ambitious move to acquire Activision Blizzard. With legal hurdles crossed, and acquisition seemingly imminent, the spotlight now turns to which celebrated titles from Activision Blizzard will grace the Xbox Game Pass.
Legal Hurdles Overcome
Microsoft's journey to acquire Activision Blizzard was far from smooth. With concerns raised by regulatory bodies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), many wondered if the deal would materialize. However, with these challenges now in the rearview, the acquisition is poised to finalize within the year, paving the way for collaborative possibilities.
Gamer Anticipation: Which Titles Will Feature?
Post-acquisition speculations have centered on the introduction of Activision Blizzard's stalwart titles to the Xbox Game Pass. While the gaming community has been eager to know if hits like Diablo 4 or the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 would be accessible on Game Pass immediately post-acquisition, the publisher had previously remained tight-lipped.
But, breaking its silence, Activision Blizzard took to Twitter to clarify its stance. In the tweet, the company mentioned its anticipation to begin adding games to the Xbox Game Pass, potentially from next year. However, it refrained from specifying which titles. The tweet also affirmed that while current flagships like Modern Warfare® III or Diablo IV aren't slated for Game Pass this year, collaborations with Xbox will commence to expand the reach of their titles once the deal concludes.
A Unique Case in Gaming Acquisitions
The Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal stands out in the gaming industry not only for its scale but also the dynamics it brings. Unlike other acquisitions, where Microsoft ensures immediate availability of the acquired studio's titles on Game Pass from launch day, the scale and repertoire of Activision Blizzard make this a distinct case.