Following up on last week’s announcement from Activision Blizzard regarding some of its biggest games following the closure of the Activision Blizzard deal, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has gone on record saying no ABK games will arrive on Game Pass before 2024.
Specifically, the Microsoft Gaming CEO said,
The regulatory process took so long… that we weren’t able to get in and work with the Activision Blizzard on that back catalog work. Now that the deal is closed, we’re starting that work, but there is work. I think the Activision Twitter handle… did put out something that talked about 2024, and I think that’s accurate. I would love it if there was some kind of secret celebration drop that’s coming in the next couple of weeks — there’s not.
That last point in particular should put to bed any speculation of a forthcoming surprise Game Pass drop of Activision Blizzard titles.
This is in stark contrast the situation that occurred when Microsoft completed its acquisition of Bethesda, with a substantial part of that company’s back catalog arriving on Game Pass almost immediately. Spencer added in his remarks,
I know there will be some disappointment about that…This acquisition is definitely long-term, so the fact that we’re not hitting day one with a bunch of games dropping in to Game Pass is a little bit of a downer, but I’m very excited about the future. And I just want to be straight with people that that’s where we are.”
