The second part of the Dune movie may not be hitting theaters soon, but we will be able to enjoy Dune: Spice Wars much sooner than expected.
The writers’ strike is having many consequences, including the delay of many important films, such as the sequel to the new Dune movie. This is inevitable and right; writers have the right to fair compensation for their work. But that doesn’t take away our itch for more Dune. Fortunately, the video game industry has us covered on that front.
Funcom has announced the release date for Dune: Spice Wars. Created by Shiro Games, this is a 4X strategy game that draws from Frank Herbert’s novels to create its own version of the universe, faithful but flexible enough to craft its own version of events. The game was released in early access in April 2022 and will be officially released on September 14th, 2023, on PC.
For those who may not know, a 4X strategy game is an empire-building strategy game in the style of Civilization or Hearts of Iron. The abbreviation 4X stands for explore, expand, exploit, exterminate; these games involve turn-based, board game-like gameplay where you carefully manage resources and terrain to expand your influence across space and time, ultimately dominating the entire scenario.
These are demanding but very rewarding games that will delight fans of board games, especially those who enjoy games with greater complexity in their rules.
Dune: Spice Wars has received significant updates since its early access release, growing exponentially since then. With six playable factions, spectacular aesthetics, and our tips on everything you need to know about Dune: Spice Wars, you have little excuse when it comes out on September 14th, both on PC and Game Pass.
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Microsoft is going to buy Activision Blizzard and nothing is going to stop them this time after winning the lawsuit against the American FTC. Now we wonder how much they will…
Now that Microsoft is on the verge of closing its acquisition deal with Activision, it’s only natural that Xbox fans are wondering when they will be able to play Call of Duty through Xbox Game Pass, paying only the monthly subscription fee instead of purchasing the game each year.
Call of Duty is one of the biggest franchises in the entertainment industry, and soon Xbox will have full ownership of it, along with other major franchises (such as Overwatch, Diablo, World of Warcraft, etc.) in the industry.
Xbox also has no plans to create platform-exclusive content, but it does have an advantage in one aspect: Xbox Game Pass. The service allows players to access hundreds of games at no additional cost, and all Xbox first-party games are available on Game Pass from day one.
When Call of Duty comes to the Xbox Game Pass, which COD will YOU jump back on first? pic.twitter.com/wE6dwARkPR
— Modern Warfare II Informer (@CODMW2Informer) July 13, 2023
When is Call of Duty coming to Game Pass?
At the moment, Call of Duty is not available on Xbox Game Pass, but fans may expect it in the not-too-distant future. The agreement with Activision has not been finalized yet, but once it is, Activision games should arrive on Game Pass at their discretion.
As for new Call of Duty games, the situation is different. Sony has an agreement with Call of Duty that lasts until the end of 2024, which means we won’t have a new Call of Duty game on Xbox Game Pass day one until 2025. We’ll have to wait.
What Happened to Xbox Live Gold Free Games? Remember when they were absolute wonders that had us hooked on the console?
Microsoft, sit down, we need to talk. What happened to the free Xbox Live Gold games? Remember when they were absolute wonders that had us hooked to the console? Okay with Game Pass you’ve done a lot already, but this is a full-blown let die. If last month we had among us ‘Truberbrook’, ‘Sudden Strike Complete Collection’ and ‘Lamentum’ (which will continue until April 15), this one has been pure sloppiness. Let’s take a look – be careful, don’t get your fill!
‘Out of space: Couch edition’
A multiplayer game in which you will have to clean a ship of green snot and drive out the aliens that have invaded you. A more or less original party (reminiscent of other recent proposals) in which you will have to balance the cleaning of the rooms, pay attention to your vital needs and go improving and unlocking new objects. It may not be the best known game of the decade, but every pack needs a surprise to discover, right?
‘Peaky Blinders: Mastermind’
And that’s it. This is the second (and last) Xbox Live Gold game this month, a prequel to ‘Peaky Blinders’. Puzzles, adventures and plans that must go perfectly. If you like the series, so will the video game, even if it’s to control each member of the Shelby family in increasing difficulty. Ah! And you will also have the ability to control the time to go backwards, forwards or start over until the plan is greased to perfection. A very grateful mechanic.
The way things are: Games with Gold needs a revolution or die while it still has a shred of dignity left. Out of space’ and ‘Peaky Blinders: Mastermind’ aren’t going to cut it for many gamers, and the anger against Xbox is growing… And rightly so. Will we see a move next month?
The problem is not Xbox or Activision Blizzard, who are wanting it, but that each country has to approve the acquisition individually.
We are only two months away from the release of Diablo IV and the hype is growing among gamers… Especially because it is increasingly likely to be released on Xbox One Game Pass and Xbox S and X Series. But before you gloat and start picking your class and preparing your strategy against Lilith, keep in mind that it’s not entirely clear. And the problem is not Xbox’s or Activision Blizzard’s, who are looking forward to it, but that each country has to approve the acquisition individually.
Nihon ga saisho ni yatta!
On October 7, 2022, Brazil was the first relevant country in the industry to approve the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which would make Microsoft the third largest video game company in the world. However, it was a somewhat pyrrhic victory: it was already known that it was not going to be a slam dunk. In fact, Sony president Jim Ryan traveled to several countries to explain that the move would be unfair to PlayStation gamers.
However, it hasn’t quite worked out for him, because now it is Japan that, after Serbia, Chile and Saudi Arabia, has given the go-ahead to spend $69 billion to acquire Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and the Diablo saga, among many others. The Japanese Fair Trade Federation has concluded that strengthening the deal would not noticeably restrict competition in the industry.
It is also true that Xbox accounts for a ridiculous percentage of the market there, so if anything it would encourage a little more competition there. However, the most important body remains that of the United States, whose laws are different from Japan’s but surprisingly similar to Japan’s in this area. The Commerce Commission has already sued Microsoft trying to stop the agreement with Activision Blizzard, but everything seems to indicate that it will come to nothing, giving even more power to the “Yes”.
In fact, analysts believe that by mid-2023 they could have a free hand. And then a new video game giant will be born. How will Sony react? Will Nintendo care at all? We will find out in the next few years, which promise to be exciting. With or without Call of Duty on Xbox.
Microsoft purchasing Activision came as a huge surprise to gamers, industry members, and business people alike. After all, the two companies represent a huge market share on top of enormous respective catalogs of games. The $68.7 billion USD deal is all cash and has some people wondering how Microsoft can get away with this regarding anti-trust laws.
Tencent, Sony, and other companies are still bigger than they will be even with Activision under their belt. But the PC giant purchased storied studio Bethesda recently, announcing that their next release, Starfield, will be an Xbox exclusive.
Of course, that doesn’t mean much for people who have Windows PCs thanks to Xbox Game Pass. With Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s Head of Gaming, making promises, what can Game Pass users expect out of the Activision deal?
How does Game Pass work?
Before we dive in, let’s have a quick refresher on how Game Pass works and what it offers for those who might be unfamiliar with it.
From streaming services to shipping services and even car companies, many are moving toward subscription modalities. While the user may not own an item, they will have access to far more and may even gain perks along the way.
In this vein, the Xbox Game Pass service provides access to more than 100 games, EA Play, and Xbox Live Gold for multiple devices using the cloud. At $14.99 a month, that’s a ton of games for the average user. What’s more: it spans a huge amount of companies and studios. For instance, you could play a Mass Effect then pick up the latest Yakuza title, switch to Halo Infinite for a while, and then play a fun indie game like Hades.
Better still is that purchasing a title on Xbox allows users to play the games on PC, as well via Game Pass.
How Activision games fit in on Game Pass
Blizzard is known for its heavy-hitting franchises like World of Warcraft,Diablo,StarCraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and more. While you can play MMOs on Xbox and PC, Microsoft doesn’t have true MMO experience under its umbrella.
All the same, Microsoft does have tons of experience with handling many server calls as you would need for managing multiple massive always-online titles. With Diablo 4 still in development, Microsoft also stands to influence how the game will come out, as well.
While future development of titles in other franchises remains opaque, it’s a sure bet to see Microsoft maintain service for current Blizzard/Activision titles. Current subscribers can maintain their service or postpone it until Microsoft ports over the Activision/Blizzard titles. Those on the fence about purchasing the service can take a look at the titles to see if it sways them or not.
Game Pass will protect Call of Duty on PlayStation
Though many people love Blizzard titles like Spyro or Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, many more gamers actively and often playCall of Duty. Since the franchise had already committed to releasing three more titles on the Sony PlayStation, Microsoft intends to uphold this deal, according to Bloomberg.
For now, Game Pass won’t afford any additional perks (that we know of) regarding Call of Duty games. Some sites have theorized that collaborating could prompt bringing Game Pass to Switch and even PS5. The likelihood of this move is entirely suspect right now.
Prepare for resurrecting older Activision titles
It’s common knowledge that Phil Spencer and other Xbox Studios members want to bring back classic Activision and Blizzard franchises. Of note are Guitar Hero, Crash Bandicoot, and Skylanders, but the gigantic company also houses many other popular and profitable games such as:
Though Game Pass holders should not expect to see these titles pop up right away, it is possible that Microsoft will pursue them down the road.
Number one step: find out what you want to play
As with anything, finding out what you want is the most important step to prepare for Activision games coming to Game Pass. If you’re an avid Overwatch player, the ~$15 USD per month fee makes sense as it not only gets you access to that game but a bunch of other new releases, too.
For Hearthstone fanatics, it might not make as much sense. After all, Hearthstone is free to play unless you purchase card packs, cosmetics, or expansions.
The bottom line is that Game Pass already had a ton to offer for that monthly fee. With Microsoft’s purchase of Activision/Blizzard, their supremacy in the games-as-a-service and subscription space is even more assured.
