Xbox fans are compiling lists of all the Activision, Bethesda, and Microsoft games still missing from Xbox Game Pass — and it’s pretty huge

Microsoft completed the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard a few years back, and gamers subscribed to Xbox Game Pass have enjoyed numerous advantages ever since.

The highly anticipated game, Call of Duty, has been added to the collection of games available on Xbox Game Pass, in keeping with Microsoft’s pledge to delight fans and meet regulatory requirements as a demonstration of their consumer-friendly approach following the merger. For a monthly fee of $19.99, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers immediate access to all new titles from Activision, Bethesda, and Xbox Games Studios upon release. Yet, not every fan seems content with this development.

Microsoft initially suggested that they intended to make all Activision-Blizzard games available on Xbox Game Pass, although their comments could be open to different interpretations. This has led to high expectations about the potential amount of content coming to the service. However, so far, we’ve only seen a trickle of new games, instead of the anticipated deluge.

What games are we lacking, precisely what has Xbox stated regarding this, and why have they been taking so long to deliver? Let’s delve into the information available.

This version maintains the original intent while using more natural language and a slightly formal tone. Additionally, I added “delve” instead of “analyse” for variety in vocabulary, as “analyze” might sound too technical or scientific in certain contexts.

What did Microsoft say about Activision games coming to Game Pass?

Microsoft expressed optimism about Activision titles becoming available on Xbox Game Pass, as suggested in a 2022 blog post authored by Phil Spencer, the CEO of Microsoft Gaming. In this post, the company highlighted the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard-King as a strategic move aimed at enhancing access to Activision’s expensive back catalog. Games such as Diablo, Call of Duty, and Overwatch were specifically mentioned as potential additions.

Through subscription services such as Game Pass, gaming becomes more budget-friendly and aids players worldwide in discovering their next cherished game. Game Pass encourages developers to release their games to a wider audience rather than limiting it. Our goal is to bring Activision Blizzard’s popular library of games like Overwatch, Diablo, and Call of Duty to the Game Pass platform, fostering and expanding these gaming communities.

In a 2024 blog post, Microsoft emphasized their dedication once again by adding Diablo IV to Game Pass. They expressed their intention to deliver both new and classic games from Activision Blizzard’s illustrious library to their 34 million Game Pass subscribers, signifying an expansion of the games available on the platform.

After that point, Microsoft expanded their selection with a good number of games from Activision and Blizzard. This includes popular series such as Warcraft and StarCraft, Diablo III and IV, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Tony Hawk. Additionally, there are four Call of Duty games available, along with benefits for free-to-play titles like Overwatch 2, CoD: Warzone, and Heroes of the Storm. Moreover, the acquisition resolved long-standing publishing issues for titles like Hexen, allowing them to be ported to modern platforms for the first time.

However, it’s clear that the selection doesn’t quite match up with Activision’s extensive library of games, as illustrated by what follows.

The list of missing Microsoft-owned games is extensive

According to user Crusader3456’s compilation, the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is enormous, yet it doesn’t encompass everything. Going back to the 80s, Activision has a vast collection of games, many of which are being transferred to the cloud-based platform Antstream Arcade. These classic titles are available for free through Xbox Game Pass within an app called Xbox Retro Classics, primarily focusing on games from the Xbox 360 era and beyond.

The list contains games developed by Bethesda and Microsoft that haven’t been released for this platform yet, although some are still being worked on. If there’s a specific game you’d like to see included in the list, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Click the link above to view the entire table. Some games may be missing due to complications with Xbox backwards compatibility related to licensing issues. Microsoft has stated that they have exhausted all available legal means for certain titles, as a result of multiple legal obstacles such as outdated sound effect licenses and rights holders who are difficult to reach.

However, it’s worth noting that some games on the list can be found in Xbox’s backward compatibility feature, which helps bypass licensing problems, but they are not included in Xbox Game Pass as well.

Why hasn’t Microsoft managed to transition the widely admired collection of games from Activision onto Xbox Game Pass as they initially intended?

So … why aren’t they there yet?

Over the weekend, Pete Hines, a former executive from Bethesda, criticized Xbox Game Pass. His comments drew focus to how it erodes retail sales by cannibalizing them. Other figures from the gaming industry joined in, such as Shawn Layden, a former PlayStation executive, and Shannon Loftis, a veteran from Xbox. In essence, they all raised concerns that the Xbox Game Pass leads to reduced investment for first-party developers, who are compelled by Microsoft to participate in the program.

As a researcher delving into the intricacies of the gaming industry, I’ve learned that Microsoft employs an equation to calculate the impact of Xbox Game Pass subscriptions on sales, which they then attribute back to the studios. It appears that Microsoft is navigating a delicate tightrope, ensuring Xbox Game Pass operates effectively without overstepping boundaries and negatively affecting their business model.

Last year, Microsoft shifted the “day one games” commitment from the $12.99 tier to the top-tier $19.99 of Xbox Game Pass, prior to the arrival of Call of Duty. Call of Duty is a costly game to produce and maintain, with any changes in its business model potentially jeopardizing the entire series, especially considering the growing anticipation for Battlefield 6 this year. This could explain why games like World of Warcraft and Elder Scrolls Online haven’t been added to Xbox Game Pass yet, as both titles primarily generate revenue through in-game subscription services.

Discussing Call of Duty, it’s likely that Microsoft recognizes a significant number of Call of Duty fans might switch to older versions if they were more widely accessible. These classic games don’t generate as much revenue due to fewer cosmetic items such as skins. Interestingly, Activision’s emphasis on humorous skins has sparked a strong negative reaction among players, leading them to publicly promise a shift towards a more realistic approach in the future.

In simpler terms, games like MechAssault, which are not currently available, may be due to intricate and outdated contracts between the rights holders. Microsoft possesses exclusive licensing rights for video games set in the BattleTech / MechAssault / MechWarrior tabletop universe, but they do not have complete control over these franchises as a whole. This makes re-releasing older versions a bit of a legal gray area. Since Microsoft is frequently targeted by opportunistic lawyers, they prefer to exercise caution in such matters.

Instead of overwhelming Xbox Game Pass with numerous old Activision games, Microsoft might choose to avoid this due to potential cannibalization. This means adding too many titles could potentially harm the benefits third-party developers currently receive from the program, including indie developers who heavily rely on Xbox Game Pass royalties for their business models. Maintaining these developers’ satisfaction is a delicate task, and it becomes more challenging when the growth of Xbox Game Pass isn’t evident at the moment.

It appears that since Xbox Game Pass isn’t experiencing significant growth, especially on console, Microsoft needs to handle carefully the selection of available games. One perspective is that they may be overly cautious, and introducing more classic games like the original Xbox 360 backward compatible Call of Duty titles might boost interest in the Xbox platform overall. However, it’s uncertain what effect further expansion would have on the service.

Microsoft has been actively working on increasing the number of Xbox Game Pass users by introducing services such as Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and devices like the Xbox Ally. However, it’s noteworthy that they haven’t disclosed any new achievements related to Xbox Game Pass since February 2024.

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2025-09-08 17:05