Is Call of Duty Coming to Game Pass?

Following Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard and its vast gaming franchises, including Call of Duty, many are wondering when these titles will become available on Game Pass for Xbox and PC. While it's confirmed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Diablo 4 won't be part of Game Pass this year, the company intends to add games to Game Pass in 2024, as per an announcement by Activision Blizzard on October 9.

When is Call of Duty Coming to Game Pass?

Activision Blizzard's statement leaves room for interpretation, and while it doesn't explicitly confirm that Call of Duty titles will arrive in 2024, it doesn't rule it out either. Based on this information and the timing of Bethesda games' inclusion on Game Pass after Microsoft's acquisition, we can make educated guesses.

In the case of Bethesda, their games were integrated into Game Pass just weeks after the acquisition. However, this primarily included back catalog titles. Newer Bethesda releases didn't arrive on Game Pass until much later, some even a year after acquisition. Given this, it's likely that back catalog games, including older Call of Duty titles, may become available early in 2024. More recent releases may take longer to join the service.

While Modern Warfare 3 may be expected on Game Pass around late 2024, it could coincide with the launch of the next Call of Duty installment. Some games, like Modern Warfare 3, may be delayed due to marketing arrangements and business schedules.

Are Other Activision Games Coming to Game Pass?

In the case of Diablo 4, while there may not be PlayStation exclusivity agreements to contend with, it may not be added to Game Pass too quickly for similar reasons as Call of Duty titles. In contrast, older Diablo games like Diablo 3 and Diablo 2: Resurrected might make their way to Game Pass sooner.

The status of World of Warcraft remains uncertain. The 20-year-old MMORPG with a dedicated subscriber base may not be rapidly added to Game Pass, given the potential impact on its subscription-based revenue.

As for Overwatch 2, a free-to-play game, it might see perks offered to Game Pass subscribers early in 2024, building on existing benefits they've received for the title.

In summary, the arrival of Call of Duty and other Activision Blizzard games on Game Pass will likely follow a staggered schedule, influenced by various factors like existing partnerships, marketing arrangements, and revenue considerations. While older titles may appear early, more recent and revenue-generating games might take longer to join the service.