According to the final report by the British Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the inclusion of Call of Duty games in the Game Pass service may not happen immediately, even if Microsoft successfully acquires Activision. Instead, the expansion of available titles in the Game Pass library is expected to commence at the earliest in 2025.
The report stated, “Given previous findings, we expect the benefits to players to start to materialize within a reasonable time, although in practice there will likely be some delay between the acquisition and the emergence of Call of Duty in Game Pass in 2025.”
It remains unclear if the CMA’s prediction is based on accurate data from Microsoft or if it was deduced from the existing rotation of games in the service.
In the past, after the acquisition of ZeniMax and its subsidiary studios, including Bethesda, their games were made available on Game Pass within a year of the transaction. However, the initial releases were older and less popular titles.
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The British regulator recently decided not to approve the merger of Microsoft and Activision, citing the growing cloud gaming market as the main argument for vetoing the deal.
Officials noted that the Redmond-based tech giant already had a significant presence in the field thanks to Azure and Xbox Cloud Gaming services, and absorbing such a large publisher could strengthen the company excessively.
Interestingly, the vetoing of the deal was not due to the potential exclusivity of the Call of Duty series. Activision CEO, Bobby Kotick, announced in an open letter that both companies would appeal the decision, stating that “the facts are on their side.”
Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Vice President, Brad Smith, commented that a negative decision could impede the growth of the new technology industry in Great Britain. However, the businessman’s statement was denied by the British Prime Minister’s spokesperson.
Although the delay in Call of Duty’s inclusion in Game Pass may disappoint some fans, the acquisition of Activision will still provide Microsoft with a wealth of popular franchises and IPs that could potentially enhance their gaming lineup.
Nonetheless, the regulatory hurdles the company faces could mean that the full benefits of the acquisition may not be realized for a few years yet.
