No ‘Call of Duty’? Xbox Game Pass will not make the game available on the platform

A Microsoft is in the midst of the acquisition process of the renowned gaming company Activision Blizzard, a transaction that began last year and which is expected to be completed by October of this year.

While gamers eagerly await to see how this merger will impact Microsoft’s subscription services like Xbox Game Pass, a recent revelation seems to indicate that the famous “Call of Duty” franchise may not be part of the package.

Change in sight

Unlike what happened with the acquisition of Bethesdawhen the company’s games were readily available on Xbox Game Pass, it appears that the arrival of Activision Blizzard titles on the service may face some additional steps.

During an interview, Phil Spencer, head of the Xbox division, shared information that suggests that the inclusion of games, especially from “Call of Duty“, on Xbox Game Pass may not be immediate.

Image: Activision/Reproduction

When asked about the availability of “Call of Duty” on Xbox Game Pass after the deal is completed, Spencer responded:

“Yes. About ABK, and I’m going to give a different answer now because of the way you asked the question. I want to make sure people know there is work to be done to port games to Game Pass. So for those who think the deal will close and everything will be available, that is not true. And that hasn’t been true in other acquisitions we’ve made either.”

He explained that there is an integration and adaptation process that takes time before Activision Blizzard games can be included in the Activision Blizzard portfolio. Xbox Game Pass.

Specifically, he highlighted that this delay is not related to making native games available on the service, but concerns cloud streaming rights for ABK (Activision-Blizzard-King) games.

While “Call of Duty” fans may feel a little disappointed by this news, Spencer addressed the issue from the developers’ perspective. He recognized that certain successful AAA franchises have marketing strategies that don’t immediately align with subscription models.

“If you are a hugely successful Triple-A franchise that has a marketing budget in the tens of millions to increase awareness and discovery of your game on day one, and that is part of your model, I completely understand why you wouldn’t immediately put your game on a subscription. I have no problem with that,” Spencer said.

The “Call of Duty” franchise, known for its first-person shooters, has been a constant presence on consoles, portables and even smartphones since the launch of its first title in 2003.

While fans wait to see how the integration of Activision Blizzard As the Xbox ecosystem unfolds, the possible initial absence of “Call of Duty” on Xbox Game Pass demonstrates that the merger of giants in the gaming world requires time and effort to ensure cohesive, high-quality gameplay for players.