Microsoft Owns Activision Blizzard: What Game Pass Subscribers Get Next

Microsoft officially closed its $68.7 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard in late 2023. Since then, gamers have waited to see exactly how this historic merger will change Xbox Game Pass and the wider gaming market. The results are finally taking shape, bringing massive franchises to the subscription service while reshaping how multi-platform releases work across competing consoles.

The First Wave of Activision Blizzard Games on Game Pass

Following the merger, Xbox leader Phil Spencer warned fans that Activision games would not appear on Game Pass overnight. Instead, Microsoft opted for a steady rollout to keep subscribers engaged over time.

The first major arrival was Diablo IV, which hit Xbox and PC Game Pass on March 28, 2024. This marked a major milestone, bringing a massive live-service action RPG to the platform at no extra cost for subscribers. Since then, Microsoft has continued to dip into the Activision catalog. The beloved platformer Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy joined the service in August 2024. Slowly but surely, the massive backlog of titles is becoming accessible, giving subscribers exactly the kind of value they hoped for when the buyout was first announced.

Microsoft has also started offering premium perks for free-to-play Activision games. In late 2024, Xbox Game Pass subscribers received exclusive cosmetic bundles and Mythic Prisms for Overwatch 2. This strategy adds value to the subscription even for games that do not have an upfront retail cost.

Call of Duty: The Crown Jewel Arrives

The real prize of the acquisition was always Call of Duty. Historically, Activision sold millions of copies of this blockbuster shooter every fall at full price. Microsoft is changing that model entirely.

In July 2024, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III was added to the Game Pass vault. More importantly, Microsoft confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will launch on Game Pass on day one when it releases in October 2024. Gamers will not have to pay $69.99 to play the newest entry.

This strategy is a massive gamble for Microsoft. By trading guaranteed retail unit sales for long-term subscription growth, the company hopes to make Game Pass an absolute necessity for shooter fans. Looking forward, fans are highly anticipating the arrival of classic Xbox 360 era shooters, hoping to see titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops II added to the vault soon.

What Happens to PlayStation and Nintendo?

For years, Sony argued that Microsoft owning Call of Duty would create an unfair monopoly. To get the deal approved by global regulators, Microsoft had to make legally binding promises regarding the future of multi-platform gaming releases.

If you play on a PlayStation 5 or a Nintendo Switch, you do not need to worry about losing access to these blockbuster games. Microsoft signed strict 10-year contracts with both Sony and Nintendo, guaranteeing that Call of Duty will remain available on their platforms. Furthermore, the Nintendo agreement ensures that future titles will launch on Nintendo hardware on the exact same day they hit Xbox, with full feature parity.

Microsoft also restructured its cloud gaming approach to satisfy the UK Competition and Markets Authority. Ubisoft actually holds the cloud streaming rights for Activision Blizzard games for the next 15 years. Because of this specific deal, Microsoft cannot make these games exclusive to Xbox Cloud Gaming. Ubisoft is free to license these titles to competing services, such as NVIDIA GeForce Now or Amazon Luna.

Changes to Game Pass Tiers and Pricing

Bringing billion-dollar franchises to a monthly subscription is not cheap. To offset the massive costs of the Activision Blizzard merger, Microsoft recently overhauled the Game Pass pricing structure.

In July 2024, the company announced major changes to its subscription tiers. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate saw a price increase, jumping from $16.99 to $19.99 per month. PC Game Pass increased from $9.99 to $11.99 per month.

Microsoft also introduced a new tier called Xbox Game Pass Standard, priced at $14.99 per month. It is incredibly important to note that the Standard tier does not include day-one releases. If you want to play games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 the exact moment they launch, you must be subscribed to either Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. This tiered system pushes dedicated players into the higher-priced brackets to access the premium Activision content.

Looking Ahead: World of Warcraft, StarCraft, and More

While shooters and action games are taking the spotlight, Activision Blizzard owns a massive vault of classic PC franchises. Fans are still waiting to see how Microsoft will handle legendary titles like World of Warcraft and StarCraft.

World of Warcraft currently requires a dedicated monthly subscription of $14.99. Microsoft has not announced any plans to bundle this subscription into PC Game Pass, but players remain hopeful that future expansions or base game access might eventually be included. Meanwhile, classic RTS games like StarCraft II and Warcraft III could easily find a home on PC Game Pass, drawing nostalgic PC gamers into the Microsoft ecosystem.

Fans of classic console games also have a lot to look forward to. Franchises like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Spyro the Dragon are now entirely owned by Microsoft, opening the door for future re-releases or brand-new sequels built exclusively for the Xbox ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Call of Duty stay on PlayStation? Yes. Microsoft signed a binding 10-year agreement with Sony. Call of Duty will continue to release on PlayStation consoles on the same day it launches on Xbox.

Do I need Game Pass Ultimate to play Day One Activision games? Yes, if you are playing on a console. The new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier does not include day-one releases. You need Game Pass Ultimate ($19.99/month) or PC Game Pass ($11.99/month) to play new games like Black Ops 6 at launch.

Are Activision games coming to cloud gaming services? Yes. Microsoft sold the cloud streaming rights for Activision games to Ubisoft to appease government regulators. This allows these games to appear on multiple cloud platforms, including NVIDIA GeForce Now, rather than being locked exclusively to Xbox Cloud Gaming.