We’ve had more than a week to come to terms with the massive announcement made by Microsoft that it was set to acquire Activision Blizzard. Both publishers have had a long ride as publishers in the gaming industry, and it turned our eyes when the two joined forces.
However, many of us PlayStation gamers gulped slowly with omens drowning our minds. We feared that we would lose many of the top titles we’ve been enjoying for so long. Fortunately, Microsoft and Xbox have mentioned that there are no current plans to remove them from PS players, so we’re hoping for the best.
Until then, let’s take a look at which Activision Blizzard games we expect to see on the Xbox Games Pass, the subscription service for Windows that lets you play games for free.
Activision Blizzard games that may appear on Xbox Games Pass
Please note that these titles are the top Activision Blizzard games we suspect will be coming to Xbox Games Pass, and there’s no official announcement as yet. If they do, it will change the way we think and feel about gaming for a long time, especially those of us who have bought several of these games for Windows already.
Call of Duty
Some of the most significant titles we may see on Xbox Games Pass form part of the Call of Duty franchise. While many of us bought Modern Warfare, Black Ops Cold War, and Vanguard, we have a sneaky suspicion that players may be able to access them for free as part of the subscription.
Warzone will definitely be free-to-play as it’s always been, so that won’t come as a surprise. We’ll probably also see future titles in the series on Games Pass, but we’ve heard that the annual releases may take longer to develop in the future.
Diablo
Another one of our favorite gaming series, there’s a good chance we’ll find Diablo 2: Resurrected and Diablo 3: Eternal on Games Pass. While we’re still hoping to see Diablo 1 appear at some point as a remastered version, the chances are small.
However, we do feel that Diablo 4 will be the number one game in the series for the subscription platform. While there’s no discussion mentioned about it yet, we’ll be sure to ‘stay awhile and listen’ for any news.
World of Warcraft
It’s been a long time since World of Warcraft has some decent upgrades, with Shadowlands only appearing in 2020. For those of you who have never stepped into the WoW universe, the Xbox Games Passport may be exactly what you need to get started. We’re hoping there will be some new features added to the title specifically for the platform.
It’s going to take a lot to compete with the likes of Elder Scrolls Online, but since Microsoft also acquired Bethesda, things might change in that regard.
Overwatch
Activision Blizzard indicated in November 2021 that it would be delaying the release of Overwatch 2. There are now rumors running around saying that one of the CEOs was to blame, but we won’t get into that now. What we will focus on is that we suspect that the title will most probably release exclusively for Xbox consoles and Games Pass.
Whether or not we’ll see a port of the first Overwatch to Games Pass is another matter. With most of the focus on the sequel, we’re not sure how much energy is going into the initial title.
Crash Bandicoot
Remember when Crash Bandicoot was a mascot for PlayStation? We’ve seen so many titles from this brand, with Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy appearing in 2017 and CB4 in 2020. While the latter also appeared on Xbox and Windows, we suspect to see many more on Games Pass.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
While the developer for Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring went to BANDAI NAMCO for those titles, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice actually ended up as an Activision title. It has a similar feel to the Souls games, with many saying it’s one of the best in its genre. Well, if it does come to Games Pass, you’ll be able to see for yourself how good it is.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
The purple dragon has been around for a long time, and while we probably won’t see Skylanders on Games Pass, there’s a good chance Spyro Reignited Trilogy will be. It takes everything we love about the franchise and puts it in one location. If Microsoft wanted to bank on a game that children and adults will enjoy, it would be SRT.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
The remastered game Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 appeared as recently as 2020, and we have high hopes it will show up in Games Pass. There may be some issues with music licenses and Tony Hawk giving permission to use his name, but we’re sure Microsoft can handle it. If so, you may be skating on the resurfaced graphics on your PC for free.
Hearthstone
Hearthstone is already free for anyone who has the Blizzard desktop app. For everyone else, there’s Games Pass. If the game ports to the subscription platform, then gamers won’t have to worry about having a Blizzard account. Or perhaps the accounts will be linked on XBP? It will be interesting to see how Microsoft plans to bring gamer files over if this does happen.
Which games would you like to see on Xbox Games Pass?
There are plenty more Activision Blizzard games that might come to Xbox Games Pass, so we’re waiting with bated breath. In our opinion, the ones that will cause the most excitement or consternation are Call of Duty and Diablo. While Microsoft made an indication that PlayStation gamers will still enjoy future titles, we’ll have to wait to see how much we can trust their word.
Until then, stay frosty, and get ready for one of the most controversial takeovers so far this year.
