The business world is a murky and complicated terrain. If navigating negotiations, conflicts, and plans is already challenging, it becomes even more difficult when one has to consider all the regulations and state bodies that impose, at times, seemingly arbitrary conditions. Just ask Microsoft, which, with its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, has gone through a true ordeal that, it seems, is going to end this very week.
Almost two years after the acquisition was announced, it appears that this Friday the 13th, the purchase of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft will be finalized. This will mark the end of a saga that has been valued at $68.7 billion and has been dragging on since January 2022, involving several legal battles.
Many fans are hopeful that this means Activision Blizzard games will come to Xbox Game Pass. Just like all Microsoft games debut on the service on day one, it would be logical for games from this new company within the conglomerate to do the same, even retroactively. However, both companies have clarified that, for that to happen, we will have to wait beyond the purchase date.
On one hand, Microsoft has stated that they want to ‘offer as many Activision Blizzard games as possible on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, both new games and titles from Activision Blizzard’s incredible catalog.’ This was something Activision Blizzard clarified in a statement last Monday. ‘While we have no plans to put Modern Warfare III or Diablo IV on Game Pass this year, once the deal is closed, we look forward to working with Xbox to bring our titles to more players around the world.’
It’s worth noting that Modern Warfare III is set to be released on November 10, so unless something unexpected happens, it could be available on Game Pass on day one if they wanted. Therefore, it’s expected that these kinds of moves, if they happen, may not start occurring until at least 2024. This will be a real disappointment for many fans who were eagerly anticipating this moment precisely for this reason.
