CoD titles would go through a long wait before launching on Game Pass

Yesterday, May 1, the news was released that Call of Duty will be coming to Xbox Game Pass in a couple of years. According to yesterday’s information, fans who wanted the game’s features to be available soon will have to wait until 2025.

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority report published on April 26 specifies that the first-person shooter will arrive on Xbox Game Pass long after Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is completed.

CoD titles would go through a long wait before launching on Game Pass

The main reason the title takes so long to arrive on Xbox Game Pass is that Microsoft must maintain the contracts between Activision and Sony as part of the merger.

Even a contract prohibiting Microsoft from including any CoD games in its subscription program for many years must be honored. Furthermore, these contracts must be enforced regardless of whether the UK authorities approve the acquisition.

Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision

Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision is currently on hold. As a result, Microsoft’s aspirations to buy Activision are not in good standing. This is because the CMA investigated and concluded that Microsoft is not responding effectively to concerns about cloud gaming. In addition, the CMA has concluded that competition in that market will be affected if the acquisition is approved.

Despite Activision’s ongoing agreement with Sony as a partner, the Japanese company is concerned that, should CoD be listed on Game Pass, the subscription service could inadvertently hurt PlayStation’s game sales.

With the acquisition paused at this point, Microsoft must start over with the agreements it has signed so far. First, of course, we’re talking about the 10-year deal with Nintendo where it intends to bring CoD to Nintendo Switch.

However, it is important to mention that to Xbox Game Pass has already arrived in a large number of games, among which are:

• VALORANT
• League of Legends

This is possible thanks to the agreement signed by Riot Games and Microsoft in December last year.

On the other hand, it is important to mention that the date the blockade between Activision and Sony regarding Game Pass ends is 2025. However, everything depends on Microsoft executives, and they are the ones who decide when it will be the time to include the title in their subscription program after the lockout ends.

All CoD fans must wait to see how the Activision acquisition will end and the future plans for the game.

Header: Microsoft