With Microsoft finally completing its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, we take a look at some of the games that could be coming to Xbox Game Pass.
Microsoft has successfully closed a deal to acquire Activision after a tough 20-month regulatory process. This adds well-known development teams like Infinity Ward and Blizzard Entertainment to Xbox Game Studios.
What Activision Games Could be Coming to Xbox Game Pass?
Call of Duty
With a large portion of the Microsoft Acquisition being focused on Call of Duty, we can almost all but guarantee that Call of Duty games will be coming quickly to Xbox Game Pass.
The company launched the first Call of Duty game in 2003. Activision releases a new instalment every year, keeping players engaged with fresh content and gameplay. Activision’s strong marketing and constant updates keep Call of Duty at the top of the gaming world.
With the upcoming Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 not releasing on Xbox Game Pass till 2024, as part of the acquisition deal, we still expect Call of Duty, Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Black Ops, and many more to come soon.
Crash Bandicoot
Activision acquired the rights to the franchise in 2008 and, since then, has released new games, updates, and spin-offs for the series. These moves keep the beloved character Crash Bandicoot alive and exciting for fans.
As part of the acquisition, we might see the N. Sane Trilogy, It’s About Time, Crash Team Racing and Crash Team Rumble titles all coming to Xbox Game Pass.
Diablo
Blizzard Entertainment, a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, first launched Diablo in 1996. The series includes multiple games and expansions, like Diablo II, Diablo III, and the recently released Diablo IV.
We expect to see the remastered Diablo 2: Resurrected, Diablo 3: External Collection and the newer Diablo 4 (however, this will not come until 2024).
Tony Hawk Pro Skater
Activision released the first game in the series in 1999. Over the years, Activision has put out several sequels and spin-offs featuring skateboarding legend Tony Hawk and other professional skateboarders.
In 2020, Activision launched a remastered version of the first two games, bringing updated graphics and gameplay to new and old fans alike. We expect this remastered Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1+2 to come to Xbox Game Pass.
Spyro the Dragon
Activision gained the rights to Spyro in 2008, the same time they acquired Crash Bandicoot. They breathed new life into the franchise by releasing the “Spyro Reignited Trilogy” in 2018. This package remastered the first three games with updated graphics and controls.
Furthermore, the company keeps the purple dragon Spyro in the gaming spotlight by also featuring him in crossover titles like “Skylanders.” We expect to see the Spyro Reignited Trilogy and the Skylanders SuperChargers games coming to Xbox Game Pass.
These are only some of the large list of games that could be coming to Xbox Game Pass under the new acquisition of Activision Blizzard, but we expect to start seeing what this will look like in the next few weeks.
If the Bethesda acquisition is anything to go off, we could be seeing some exciting new titles coming through very quickly. It is an exciting time for Xbox players.