Xbox pledges to treat Activision Blizzard franchises with "the respect that they deserve"

Statue of Illidan Stormrage, the Betrayer

(Image credit: Blizzard)

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has discussed plans to take advantage of Activision Blizzard's past titles.

In an interview with the Official Xbox Podcast, Spencer stated: “I feel that we have to be a great custodian for the content that we touch. These are memories from people on different platforms, different decades" (via VGC).

In the wake of Microsoft's high-profile acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the American tech giant now has access to an immense portfolio of gaming franchises including Call of Duty, Diablo, Warcraft, Starcraft, Overwatch, Crash Bandicoot, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. As well as covering a wide range of modern titles like Overwatch 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, this list includes a wide range of classic titles, including cult classic platformer Spyro the Dragon and definitive turn-of-the-millennium RTS Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos.

“The amount of franchises that we now have in our portfolio is kind of inspiring, it’s daunting," remarked Spencer. However, the Xbox chief also celebrated the opportunities presented by this broader selection of games past and present: "There’s just an amazing trove of things that we can go and touch again."

That said, Spencer doesn't intend to revisit any older titles lightly: "I want to make sure that when we’re going back and visiting something, that we do it with our complete ability, a motivated team that wants to go work on something and make a difference, not just create something for financial gain, or create something for a PR announcement and not deliver on the product."

To address this difficulty, Spencer hinted at potential new plans for Game Pass: "We [now] have the ability to maybe pick a couple of franchises every year and almost do a ‘revisited'. [However,] I just made up that term, so it’s not a brand, it’s not on a box."

Though we've yet to see any concrete plans on this front, it's clear that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard could potentially lead to the preservation of older, classic titles - a welcome move in an era where game preservation remains a significant issue.

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An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.

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