Microsoft has doubled down on its intention to bring Activision games to its premium subscription service, Xbox Game Pass.
Speaking during an interview with Bloomberg, Xbox president Sara Bond talked about the significance of Game Pass in relation to its core audience. She said that the company is aware that its core users enjoy the subscription service, as it brings a whole portfolio of games. She clarified that players will get every single one of Microsoft’s games day one on Game Pass. According to her, the quality and the breadth of those games has only been going up over time, and subscribers will see some more major titles going becoming a part of the subscription service later this year.
On the topic of more big releases being added to Xbox Game Pass, Bond was asked whether this would include the portfolio of Activision, including popular franchises like Call of Duty. In response, she stated that games from across Microsoft’s whole slate will become a part of Xbox Game Pass, implying that Activision’s catalog of titles would indeed be available on the subscription service’s catalog. As per Bond, keeping this as something that is really special for Xbox players is central to the company.
Bond was also asked about the hardcore long-term consumers, who are worried about the release of first-party Xbox titles other platforms and that it may indicate Xbox will de-focus on its own hardware. In response, she said that the company’s long-term commitment is to make sure that Xbox users can bring their games with them wherever they want to play. She sees the Xbox library as something that can go with its audience, wherever they choose to play. As such, Microsoft remains committed to cross-play, cross-progression, and cloud saves.
Previously, during an interview with Game File, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer had mentioned that Microsoft’s intent is to have the full portfolio of games from ZeniMax, Activision Blizzard and Xbox Game Studios day one on Game Pass, and that the company has been doing the back-end work to make those games come to PC and console simultaneously.
