Xbox
Activision Blizzard games are coming to Xbox Game Pass, starting with Diablo IV next month
Xbox has just confirmed that Activision Blizzard games will be making their way into Game Pass, now that they’re all Microsoft Studios games. First up: Diablo IV.
As part of the various business model updates for Xbox announced during a special broadcast of the Xbox Podcast, Activision Blizzard games will be coming to Xbox and PC Game Pass very soon. While no specific release window was given for the large list of titles that fall under that category, it was revealed that Diablo IV will be the first to do so, on March 28, 2024.
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer made the announcement during the previously mentioned Xbox Podcast, revealing that the rich library of games made by the studios under Activision Blizzard is now full game for Xbox Game Pass. That means that franchises like Call of Duty, Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, Starcraft, Crash Bandicoot, and many more will eventually make their way to the service.
When the purchase of Activision Blizzard was closed, it was Spencer himself who talked down the expectations of Xbox fans hoping that their arrival would be immediate. “I know there will be some disappointment about that,” he said. “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.”
Game Pass is getting many games… eventually
As of right now, we only know that Diablo 4 will be the first title of said company to come to Game Pass. It’ll arrive on March 28, 2024, which means that there’s only a little over a month until it comes to the service. No further details have been given about when or which games will make their way to the service.
Diablo 4 was originally released on May 30, 2023, and has been available for purchase on Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and eventually, it released on Steam as well.
Perhaps more importantly, due if only because of the size and power of the series over the entire video game industry, is the question of Call of Duty. Does this announcement imply that every upcoming Call of Duty release will launch day one on the service? We’ll have to wait and see.