‘Diablo IV’ Heads to Game Pass as Microsoft Eyes 4 Games to Expand Beyond Xbox

Microsoft is bringing its first Activision Blizzard title to Game Pass, following its profitable multibillion-dollar acquisition of the corporate: The 2023 hit Diablo IV will likely be accessible on the subscription service beginning March 28.

Microsoft introduced the information as we speak throughout an episode of the Official Xbox Podcast, which additionally served as an try to clear up latest rumors that the corporate had plans to take Xbox-exclusive video games to different platforms. Fans weren’t too eager on the concept, posting messages on social media likening the transfer to a betrayal, saying it will “devalue” the model and make proudly owning the console pointless.

Spencer tackled these rumors head-on, saying that solely 4 video games could be shedding their unique standing. Despite hypothesis that the video games going to different consoles may embody Starfield or Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Xbox is just not contemplating both title, he mentioned.

Spencer declined to call the 4 video games, however mentioned that two are “community-driven” titles the corporate desires to increase. The different two, he says, “were never really meant to be built as platform exclusives.” Spencer mentioned the groups behind the video games had plans to make bulletins quickly. According to Game File reporter Stephen Totilo, these 4 titles are Sea of Thieves, Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and Grounded.

Xbox’s transfer to deliver these titles elsewhere doesn’t imply a “fundamental change in how we see exclusivity,” Spencer famous. He described Xbox as a platform for gamemakers who need to attain probably the most gamers. “It’s not about one device,” he mentioned. “It’s not about games in service of a device, but rather the devices people want to play on should be in service of making the games as big and popular as they possibly could be.” The firm’s {hardware} remains to be a “critical component” within the firm’s technique, however they consider they’ll have gamers throughout many platforms.

“I do have a fundamental belief that over the next five or 10 years, exclusive games, games that are exclusive to one piece of hardware, are going to be a smaller and smaller part of the game industry,” Spencer mentioned. The business, he famous, has been trending this manner for practically a decade, and having titles which can be additionally accessible on consoles just like the PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch will assist Microsoft attain extra gamers.

Xbox’s {hardware} stays a “critical component” of Microsoft’s purpose to maintain its enterprise wholesome, Spencer mentioned, however the workforce is aware of gamers span many communities and platforms: “We fully accepted that we’re going to have Xbox players across all kinds of devices.”