Will Call of Duty come to Xbox Game Pass?

On 13th October, Microsoft successfully acquired Activision Blizzard King. The $68.5 Billion deal has to be the largest in Gaming history. Since the deal's consummation, one of the biggest question on people's minds is: Will Call of Duty come to the Xbox Game Pass?

Before answering the question, let's dive deep into the deal and its implications.

Microsoft's Activision Blizzard King acquisition

Microsoft, one of the biggest tech corporations worldwide, initially approached Activision Blizzard King with a $68.5 Bn proposal. The latter accepted the proposal, and the formalities began.

The tech giant's gaming subsidiary, Xbox Games, is currently also one of the most significant players in gaming, with around fifteen studios and multiple AAA titles, including Minecraft, Forza Horizon, Halo, and more.

The acquisition means the addition of multiple studios, such as Treyarch, Sledgehammer, Infinity Ward, Beenox, etc., and popular titles, including Call of Duty, Hearthstone, Overwatch, Warcraft, Diablo, Candy Crush Saga, and more.

While Xbox Gaming was already massive, with the addition of some of the biggest names in gaming, it becomes a powerhouse.

The deal was initially the subject of scrutiny by multiple regulatory commissions. But it was approved and finalized on the 18th of October.

Implications of the deal

The new powerhouse that is Microsoft now owns Call of Duty, Minecraft, and Candy Crush Saga, three of the most popular gaming titles. The Call of Duty franchise and Minecraft are currently among the top-selling titles. Despite the heavy criticism for the latest Call of Duty game, it was the best-selling game of November 2023.

Heavily overlooked yet the most profitable, Mobile Game Industry Titans in Candy Crush Saga and Call of Duty: Mobile are now part of the Xbox Games catalogue. These two titles alone have a combined staggering over one billion downloads.

Last but not least are the two leagues: the CDL (Call of Duty League) and the OWL (Overwatch League); along with popular tournament organizer MLG (Major League Gaming). These IPs might not be profitable, but they have a legacy and would be an exciting launchpad for Microsoft's entry into esports.

The new titles will eventually add to the value of Xbox Game Pass. But what is it? Let's understand it.

What is Xbox Game Pass?

Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service that allows users to play multiple gaming titles by paying a subscription fee every month. Currently, there are three paid plans (for the majority of countries):

• Xbox Game Pass Console ($9.99/month for Offline, $9.99/month for Online)
• Xbox Game Pass PC ($9.99/month)
• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($16.99/month)

(The prices, plans, and perks may vary according to the country)

Currently, the pass includes an EA Play membership that allows for the legendary FIFA, NBA, and NFL games. Additionally, the Riot Games partnership with the PC pass allows perks for all the Riot titles, including League of Legends, Valorant, and more.

With the addition of the Activision Blizzard title, the game pass will be worth much more. So when will these games be added?

When will Call of Duty come to Xbox Game Pass?

With the successful acquisition of Activision Blizzard King, Microsoft eventually aims to bring Call of Duty and other titles to Xbox Game Pass.

Compared to the Bethesda acquisition, the current deal had a lot of uncertainties, and hence, there is a delay in bringing the newly acquired titles to the game pass.

According to Phil Spencer, the aim is to bring all these titles to the game pass, but it won't be until 2024. With the uncertainties, Xbox and Activision have to work on bringing the titles to the game pass. He has addressed the fans in a podcast regarding the timelines for the new games' arrival. You can read his Xbox Wire post regarding the same here. 

TL;DR Xbox Game Pass will feature Call of Duty and other titles in 2024. 

Feature Image Credits: Screenshot via Xbox YouTube // Microsoft

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