On March 28, Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be able to benefit from the first adjustments in preparation for the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Indeed, one of the studio's games will be included in the service, at no extra cost. This is Diablo 4, the latest entry in the legendary franchise, released last summer on all platforms. Subscribers will not have to buy it to test it since it will be accessible directly via Game Pass on consoles and PC.
But you will have to meet a specific condition to be able to play it. In its press release announcing the game's arrival, Microsoft explained that it will require a Battle.net account to access its online services. This is a condition that was already present before the acquisition, as Battle.net is the official site and launcher for Blizzard's own licenses. Except that with the acquisition of Activision by Microsoft, many thought that this prerequisite would no longer exist.
Microsoft explains the procedure to follow
If you do not have an account, it is time to create one. To do this, go to the site to download the launcher. Account creation is done directly on the platform before even installing the game. Once this is done, you will need to link your account (new or existing) with your Microsoft credentials so that the two services are interconnected. After completing this step, you can finish installing Diablo 4 on your machine and play it.
It appears that these steps only apply to the PC version of the game. Players who go through Game Pass on console should have no problem downloading and launching Diablo 4. It's still a hell of a inconvenience for PC subscribers who find themselves having to use two launchers for the price of one, even though the two companies managing them are supposed to have merged. It must be noted that the procedures have not been simplified contrary to what one might have expected.
A catalog that is expanding
This does not take away from the good news of having Diablo 4 in the Xbox Game Pass. This means that the buyout process will benefit players more and more. As with Bethesda games, and those from Xbox Game Studios, it’s likely that Activision Blizzard’s franchises will remain in the catalog for an indefinite period, or that they will never leave. It’s not yet known what will happen to all the other franchises – Crash Bandicoot, Call of Duty, Warcraft, etc. – but it’s possible that most of them will be added to the service in the coming weeks. We’re eagerly awaiting the next Game Pass bulletin from Microsoft.
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