We left 2023 on somewhat of a high note after the Activision Blizzard acquisition was a success, but just over four months into 2024 we’ve seen very few positives from the buyout. In January, Microsoft laid off around 1,900 employees from across Xbox, Activision Blizzard, and Bethesda. Then in February, Xbox came under fire when it announced that four Xbox exclusives would launch on other consoles. It was a rough couple of months, and now Xbox is yet again hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Earlier this week, Microsoft announced that it’s closing four ZeniMax studios: Tango Gameworks, Arkane Austin, Alpha Dog Games, and Roundhouse Studios. While Roundhouse is being absorbed into ZeniMax Online to work on The Elder Scrolls Online, it appears that the other studios are mostly facing layoffs — and reports suggest the Xbox cuts aren’t over yet.
That news was then followed by a report that there are internal debates at Microsoft about whether to add new Call of Duty games to Game Pass on day one, as well as potentially raise the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Xbox president Sarah Bond has teased that some “really big games” from across Xbox’s “whole slate” will join Xbox Game Pass this year, but hasn’t specifically said what Activision games that includes, if any.
Xbox is in desperate need of a win from its Activision Blizzard acquisition, so for this week’s poll, we want to know: do you think Xbox will add the entire Activision portfolio to Game Pass this year? Let us know by voting in our poll and leaving a comment below. Have a great weekend, everyone!
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Yes
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Yes, but gradually
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No
We’ve had 2069 responses.
If you enjoy playing video games on mobile, keep an out in July, as Microsoft will be launching the Xbox mobile gaming store.
