Phil Spencer confirms Activision Blizzard games coming to Game Pass in 2024

In a recent confirmation by Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, Activision Blizzard games will make their way to Xbox Game Pass only in 2024. This information was delivered through the official Xbox podcast. Despite fans anticipating surprises in the coming weeks, Spencer clarified that recent preoccupations with the Activision Blizzard acquisition left no room to prepare games for the Game Pass. Curiously, this contrasts with previous acquisitions, like that of Bethesda, where games appeared on Game Pass within days of the transaction Activision Blizzard, which was officially acquired by Microsoft last week, had already hinted that games may only be accessible on Game Pass by 2024, a statement now confirmed by Microsoft.

During the podcast, Spencer discussed the wide range of franchises Microsoft now owns. He described it as both inspiring and somewhat daunting, acknowledging the responsibility to preserve these diverse franchises, which represent memories across numerous platforms and decades. He stated, "We want to ensure that if we return to a franchise, we do our utmost with a motivated team that wants to make a difference, not just to develop something for economic reasons, or to make a public announcement that might not meet expectations." Spencer emphasizes starting with teams passionate about their projects and looks forward to visiting them, fully supporting studios that aspire to revive classic franchises. The full conversation is available for examination and listening, and a synopsis of the Activision Blizzard takeover by Microsoft can be viewed here.