Microsoft is en route to acquire Activision-Blizzard for nearly $70 billion in 2023, and that could mean a ton of new possibilities for some of gaming's most influential IPs.
This is a list that includes Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and plenty more.
One potential crossover for these series immediately stands out - integration with Xbox Games Pass.
With that in mind, will World of Warcraft be coming to Xbox Game Pass?
Microsoft is looking to expand Xbox Game Pass
Fans have all the right to speculate at many new offerings on Xbox Game Pass if Microsoft's acquisition of Activision-Blizzard goes as planned - and the company has made it clear that this is their intention.
A statement from the company reads, "Activision Blizzard games are enjoyed on a variety of platforms and we plan to continue to support those communities moving forward.
Upon close, we will offer as many Activision Blizzard games as we can within Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, both new titles and games from Activision Blizzard’s incredible catalog."
So why not World of Warcraft?
Will World of Warcraft be on Xbox Game Pass?
World of Warcraft is at a crossroads as the final update for its latest expansion, Shadowlands 9.2, isn't far off.
If Microsoft's acquisition goes through as reported, the company will have plenty of ways to innovate things, and one of the most enticing is integrating World of Warcraft in its entirety (Shadowlands, Classic TBC, and Season of Mastery) into the massively popular Xbox Game Pass.
A move to Xbox Game Pass could be WoW's first departure from its subscription model that has run for over 18 years. Otherwise, it could simply offer the games themselves and require the same subscription model.
If WoW did arrive on Game Pass, tons of prospective new players would see the game, likely picking up player count substantially, something that has been a challenge for the MMO nearing its second decade running.
While nothing's confirmed and we're far from WoW on Game Pass being a reality, it's a very exciting and possible next step in 2023.
READ MORE: Will Call of Duty become an Xbox Exclusive under Microsoft?