Activision Blizzard’s Games Arrive on Xbox Game Pass: A New Era of Gaming Begins
3 min readThe gaming industry has witnessed a significant shift in the landscape with the announcement that Activision Blizzard’s games will be joining Xbox Game Pass. This move marks the beginning of a new era in gaming, offering subscribers an extensive library of popular titles at no extra cost.
Diablo IV, the latest addition to the Diablo franchise, is the first Activision Blizzard game to grace Xbox Game Pass. The news was met with excitement from the gaming community, as Diablo IV is a highly anticipated title. With its arrival on Game Pass, Xbox members can now enjoy this action role-playing game without having to purchase it separately.
This is just the beginning of Xbox’s broader plan to offer more Activision Blizzard titles in its monthly subscription service. Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard in October 2023 paved the way for this partnership. The deal, worth nearly $69 billion, was the largest in Microsoft’s history and marked a significant expansion of its gaming portfolio.
The inclusion of Activision Blizzard games in Game Pass is a win-win situation for both parties. Xbox gains an extensive library of popular titles, while Activision Blizzard benefits from increased exposure and reach to a larger audience. This partnership also opens up new opportunities for cross-platform play and collaboration between Xbox and Activision Blizzard communities.
Activision Blizzard’s roster includes a plethora of popular franchises, such as Call of Duty, Overwatch, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Tony Hawk, World of Warcraft, and Starcraft. The addition of these titles to Game Pass is sure to excite subscribers and attract new members.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard came with regulatory scrutiny, particularly in the US, where the FTC is continuing to investigate the deal. The investigation has led to allegations of Microsoft misrepresenting its plans for Activision Blizzard following layoffs that affected 1,900 employees across the company’s gaming segments. However, the partnership with Xbox Game Pass is a clear indication of Microsoft’s commitment to offering Activision Blizzard games to its subscribers.
The deal between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard also includes the streaming rights for Activision Blizzard games being offloaded to Ubisoft, Nintendo, and a few other streaming hubs. This agreement lasts for 15 years, ensuring a long-term partnership between the companies.
The arrival of Activision Blizzard games on Xbox Game Pass marks a significant milestone in the gaming industry. It represents a shift towards subscription-based gaming models and offers subscribers access to a vast library of popular titles at an affordable price. The partnership between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in the gaming industry.
In conclusion, the announcement that Activision Blizzard’s games will be joining Xbox Game Pass is an exciting development for the gaming community. It marks the beginning of a new era in gaming, offering subscribers an extensive library of popular titles at no extra cost. The partnership between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in the gaming industry and is sure to excite subscribers and attract new members.
As we move forward, we can expect to see more Activision Blizzard titles joining Xbox Game Pass, further expanding the library of games available to subscribers. This partnership is a significant step towards the future of gaming and represents an exciting time for gamers and the industry as a whole.