Activision Blizzard has given its first glimpse at its plans for Xbox Game Pass once the Microsoft deal closes, saying they expect to start bringing their games to the service next year.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is expected to close on Friday. However, in a statement on X/Twitter today, the company said it does not expect titles like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Diablo IV to arrive on Game Pass this year.
It’s great to see the growing anticipation for Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III. As we continue to work toward regulatory approval of the Microsoft deal, we have received some questions about whether our upcoming and recently launched games will be available via Game Pass.
While we…
— Activision Blizzard (@ATVI_AB) October 9, 2023
“As we continue to work toward regulatory approval of the Microsoft deal, we have received some questions about whether our upcoming and recently launched games will be available via Game Pass,” the statement read. “While we have no plans to put Modern Warfare III or Diablo IV on Game Pass this year, once the deal closes, we expect to begin working with Xbox to bring our titles to more players around the world. We expect to start adding games Coming to Game Pass sometime next year.”
The types of titles that could start arriving on Game Pass once the deal expires has been one of the major issues as Microsoft continues to work to push the deal. It was addressed back in June in a big FTC trial, during which Xbox Vice President Sarah Bond noted that the current agreement in place prevents Call of Duty from arriving on Game Pass before January 2025.
However, this does not mean that games like Diablo IV may come to the service next year, along with hundreds of other games published by Activision Blizzard. It is known that Microsoft’s massive acquisition of Bethesda brought a large number of this publisher’s games to Game Pass, including Doom, Elder Scrolls, and Fallout.
It’s just the latest news that will inevitably emerge regarding the closing of the $69 billion acquisition. the edge It stated that the deal is expected to be completed a few days before the October 18 deadline that was agreed upon between Microsoft and Activision after a long battle in various courts.
Alex Stedman is a senior news editor at IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
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