With Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, many gamers are left confused, wondering if a Call of Duty MW3 Game Pass release is possible or not. While the future of the Call of Duty franchise under Microsoft is still yet to be fully revealed, we do have MW3 Game Pass details to dig into. So, if you’re hoping you can dive in on Xbox Game Pass now that Activision is under Microsoft, we’ve got all the information you need to know.
Call of Duty MW3 is set to be the next game in the series, building upon many of the successes and shortcomings of the previous entry to, hopefully, make one of the best competitive FPS games out there. While we’ll have to wait for the Call of Duty MW3 release date to find out for sure, the leaks and rumors have us excited, and a Modern Warfare 3 Game Pass release would only sweeten the deal.
Will Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 be on Game Pass?
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 will not be on Game Pass at launch due to Activision having an existing marketing agreement with PlayStation. This was revealed during the FTC v. Microsoft court case which stated that Call of Duty is not approved to arrive on Game Pass until 2025 at the earliest.
As reported by The Verge’s Tom Warren, the CMA revealed that Call of Duty would not be arriving on the platform until 2025. With Sony having a deal with Activision prior to Microsoft’s acquisition of the company, this will remain in place until it expires in 2025. Only once that deal has expired can Activision and Microsoft consider putting any new Call of Duty game on Xbox or PC Game Pass.
So, not only will MW3 not make its way onto Microsoft’s subscription service at launch, but a likely sequel in 2024 also won’t be able to launch day-one on the platform. However, in a Microsoft blog post, it did confirm it intends to “make Activision Blizzard’s much-loved library of games – including Overwatch, Diablo and Call of Duty – available in Game Pass”. Therefore, it’s possible that MW3 could come to Game Pass after 2025, alongside the full library of other Call of Duty games.
For avid Game Pass enthusiasts enjoying its benefits on console and PC, this is no doubt unfortunate news. When this acquisition first began, many speculated that Call of Duty, and subsequently MW3 would be included in the Game Pass library right away. However, you will have to purchase the game separately if you’re looking to dive in, at least before 2025 when it’s possible it could arrive on the platform.
Even if it was contractually allowed, featuring on Game Pass would likely have had a substantial impact on the launch of MW3, seeing Game Pass subscribers able to jump in at no extra cost right away. Nevertheless, Call of Duty has always been an incredibly successful series, with even the weaker entries making massive profits. So, even without a MW3 Game Pass release we can expect the game to have a strong launch, especially with how Call of Duty MW3 multiplayer is shaping up.
And there you have it, all the Modern Warfare 3 Game Pass details you need to know. While it would have been great to have what is likely to be one of the best FPS games once it is released readily available on the stellar subscription service, we’re still in store for some great FPS action.
