Microsoft
In October 2023 , Microsoft completed itsacquisition of Activision Blizzard , and by the close of the class , the latter company’sCEO had departed . Now , this will be the year where we ’ll see how Activision Blizzard functions when in full integrated into Microsoft . The most immediate variety for those who toy games will likely be Activision Blizzard titles come toXbox Game Pass , Microsoft ’s subscription service .
Microsoft and Activision have explainedthat because of the tribulations the learning encountered , it was unimaginable to have Xbox Game Pass additions prepared almost immediately after the skill , as it did with ZeniMax Media . In the coming months , I await we ’ll at long last start to see Activision Blizzard games filter onto the service , even if we should n’t ask it fromthis week ’s Developer_Direct . As Activision Blizzard is one of the sometime biz publishers out there , having unloosen 100 of games , there are plenty of titles to select from . I ’ve cherry - picked the ones I want to see most .
Microsoft
Diablo IV
Diablo IVshould be the first Activision Blizzard game to add up to Microsoft ’s play subscription service . Although I already own the game , I recognise that this lengthy RPG would be a fantastical conniption for the service for multiple reasons . RPGs are complete for Game Pass because they add tons of value to the subscription and remove the risk of players spending money on a drawn-out game they do n’t like . Diablo IVbeing on Game Pass would also make setting up multiplayer with friends easier , as you would n’t need to grease one’s palms the plot . Xbox Cloud Gaming can enable a portable option outside the niche handheld PC space . Whenever Microsoft drop Activision game on Xbox Game Pass , expectDiablo IVto be the headliner .
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 1 and 2
The Marvel : Ultimate Alliance games were a big part of my childhood , as I sink dozens of hour into the biz across Wii , Xbox , and Xbox 360 . As Diablo - likes , these game provide thorough rich dives into the Marvel universe when the MCU was just starting . They ’re also pleasurable co - op game , which suits Game Pass . While the Ultimate Alliance game did see PS4 and Xbox One remasters in 2016 , they were delist alongside many of Activision ’s other licensed game . regard this entry a symbolic one : a hope that Microsoft sort out any legal issues and can rerelease some definitive licensed game that Activision Blizzard write .
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
My favorite of FromSoftware ’s game , Sekiro : Shadows conk out double , trade the typically slow , methodical gameplay of the Dark Souls games for acute parry - filled samurai combat . Activision published this game in North America , mean Microsoft now technically has publishing rights to the game . The best matter Microsoft can do with the game — outside of greenlighting a continuation — is putSekiro : Shadows expire Twiceon Xbox Game Pass . A FromSoftware rubric on the service would be a major draw in apost - Elden Ringworld . It also pave the way of life for any plot that Activision has been involved with over the years to potentially issue forth to Game Pass .
Prototype Biohazard Bundle
Although Activision primarily focuses on its swelled enfranchisement , it has left plenty behind . In peculiar , Radical Entertainment ’s two Prototype game from the Xbox 360 generation have n’t get much love of late , but they sense primed for a return . These loose - earth military action games star a superhuman character who can mold - pitch his trunk , typically into weapons , making for some brutal action . They were some of the most entertaining open - world games of their era , but this series never quite reached the stature of series like Grand Theft Auto or Assassin ’s Creed . ThePrototype Biohazard Bundlecontains the two games that come to Xbox One in 2015 , so impart them to Xbox Game Pass should be easy . Maybe if they ’re pop enough on the service , Microsoft will see enough involvement for another game in this franchise .
World of Warcraft
Activision’s remakes
Vicarious Visions , Beenox , and toy for Bob all did some great work over the last tenner on excellent remakes of the earliest games in the Crash Bandicoot , Crash Team Racing , Spyro , and Tony Hawk ’s Pro Skater series . It ’d be wise for Microsoft to add these remake to Xbox Game Pass as soon as possible because these are democratic franchises with dedicated fan bases that can be draw to the military service . While these are the obvious choices , I hope Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are willing to dig into their classical game catalogue and make as many of these as possible available via Game Pass .
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
WhileCall of Duty : Modern Warfare IIIisn’t a very adept secret plan , it ’s another title Microsoft needs to put on the military service to in public demonstrate the full integrating of Activision Blizzard into Xbox . More generally speaking , I ’m curious about how Microsoft will roll the Call of Duty titles out on Xbox Game Pass . Does it release them all at once in a massive drop ? Or does the company filter them out over time so Call of Duty fans have a reasonableness to return to the avail calendar month after month ? It also seems probable that this year ’s Call of Duty will be the first Activision Blizzard day - one release on the servicing , so 2024 will likely be a massive twelvemonth for Xbox Game Pass , no matter what Activision games Xbox decides to add .
