Activision Archives

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Older Call of Duty games are coming to Game Pass in 2026

Asha Sharma, the new head of Xbox, announced that Game Pass subscribers will no longer receive new Call of Duty titles on launch day; instead, these games will be available a year later. This change is part of a strategy to reassess the availability of the franchise due to concerns about profitability. However, Activision plans to enhance the Game Pass library by adding more titles from the Call of Duty back catalog this year. Currently, only a few recent entries are available, with the oldest being Call of Duty: WW2 from 2017. Potential additions to Game Pass could include classic titles from the series, such as Call of Duty (2003), Call of Duty 2 (2005), Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007), and others, including the 2021 title Call of Duty: Vanguard, which has not been available on Game Pass.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Microsoft lowers Game Pass prices, drops Call of Duty from day-one offerings

Microsoft's subscription gaming service is reducing the price of Game Pass Ultimate from .99 to .99 per month and the PC Game Pass subscription from .49 to .99 per month. These changes are part of a global pricing strategy and will be reflected in the next billing cycle for current subscribers. New Call of Duty titles will no longer be available on Game Pass at launch but will be added during the subsequent holiday season. The price adjustment reduces the annual cost of Game Pass Ultimate from 4 to 0, saving subscribers . The total number of subscribers reached 34 million in early 2024.

AppWizard

April 12, 2026

Fan World of Warcraft servers face shut down as Blizzard wins Turtle WoW case

Activision Blizzard won a copyright infringement lawsuit against the private gaming server Turtle WoW, which was filed in August 2025. The court ordered Turtle WoW to cease all activities related to private servers and modded client software. The ruling prohibits the defendants from transferring any Turtle WoW client software, source code, or promotional materials to third parties. A settlement has been reached between Blizzard and the Turtle WoW defendants, with plans for Blizzard to file for a dismissal of the case by June 8, 2026. Donations on the Turtle WoW website have been suspended, and the community is reacting to the court's decision.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

Revisiting the last truly great Call of Duty

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2019 has seen a resurgence in interest due to a sale on Steam. The game is praised for its visual quality, sound design, and gameplay experience, setting high standards for first-person shooters. Its Create-a-Class system encourages strategic gameplay, and the attachment mechanics require meaningful choices, preventing any single weapon configuration from dominating. Despite some flaws, the game retains distinct weapon characteristics. Modern Warfare 2019 is viewed as both a high point for the franchise and a catalyst for challenges, particularly with the introduction of Warzone. The decision to separate Modern Warfare from Warzone has been positively received. Activision's recent discount indicates an effort to rekindle excitement for the game, which continues to be a benchmark for future titles.

AppWizard

April 2, 2026

‘What’s your salary? I told him, and he said no problem, we’ll double. And those days are gone:’ Listening to game dev legends reminiscing in 1989 about the ‘golden days of computer games’ already being over is a trip

Cassette tape recordings from the 1989 Computer Game Developers Conference reveal insights into the gaming industry's evolution. Robert Garriott of Origin Systems expressed concerns about an oversaturated PC gaming market, reflecting ongoing industry anxieties. A panel titled "The Golden Days of Computer Games" highlighted nostalgia for gaming history. Steve Cartwright credited Activision co-founder David Crane for his entry into game design, while M.U.L.E. designer Danielle Bunten Berry lamented the shift from a product-oriented mindset to one influenced by market demands. Garriott noted the decline of the "one programmer, one product" model, emphasizing the need for specialization and the importance of marketing in contemporary game development. Despite these challenges, indie development continues to thrive, with small teams creating celebrated titles. The complete panel recording is available from the Video Game History Foundation.

AppWizard

March 29, 2026

Forgotten FPS sequel Heretic 2 gets a ‘reverse-engineered sourceport’ that fixes bugs, improves the framerate and adds ‘lots of cosmetic improvements’

Classic boomer shooters Heretic and Hexen have been made more accessible for PC gamers by Nightdive Studios. Hexen 2 is available for purchase on Steam, while accessing Heretic 2 requires obtaining a boxed copy. Heretic 2, released in 1998, is a third-person action-adventure game that received positive reviews for its level design and 3D action. MaxEd on GitHub has created a reverse-engineered sourceport called Heretic2R, which enhances the game with features like widescreen support, unlocked framerate, improved map loading times, and cosmetic improvements. To use Heretic2R, players need the original Heretic 2 game data updated to version 1.06. The potential for a future rerelease of Heretic 2 exists, as both it and Hexen 2 were published by different companies now under Microsoft.

AppWizard

March 16, 2026

Asset reuse in videogames is essential, and we need to embrace it, says Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry director: ‘We redo too much stuff’

Ubisoft's Far Cry Primal is set in the Mesolithic period, allowing players to navigate the Carpathian mountains and face prehistoric creatures. The game faced criticism for reusing elements from Far Cry 4, leading to frustration from Alex Hutchinson, the director of Far Cry 4, who suggested that Ubisoft should have acknowledged the connection. Similarly, Activision's Call of Duty: Ghosts was criticized for reusing animations from Modern Warfare 2, raising concerns about creativity in game development. Hutchinson noted that asset reuse is common in large studios, citing examples from the Assassin's Creed series. He observed a shift in perspectives regarding asset reuse, with some now advocating for its creative merits, particularly in successful Japanese titles like Dark Souls and Yakuza. Hutchinson also speculated on the potential role of AI in game development but expressed skepticism about its ability to significantly change the industry.

AppWizard

March 6, 2026

“Where does Xbox fit all of a sudden?”: Former Microsoft VP says it “maybe” should have taken “full advantage of Minecraft” while it had a chance instead of getting distracted by Bethesda exclusives

Peter Moore, the former head of Xbox and Sega, believes that Microsoft has not fully utilized the potential of Minecraft since acquiring Mojang. He highlighted that Minecraft was designed for user-generated content and the integration of artificial intelligence, similar to games like Fortnite. Moore noted that Microsoft's focus has shifted to high-profile acquisitions like Activision Blizzard and Bethesda, which complicates the integration of new acquisitions with Xbox's strategy. He stated that the extensive spending on acquisitions makes it difficult to maintain exclusivity on the console. While Minecraft has an in-game store for user-generated content, it lacks the expansive platform capabilities of Roblox or Fortnite. Despite this, Minecraft remains the best-selling game of all time, indicating that Microsoft likely does not regret its investment in the franchise.

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

Call of Duty’s Black Ops Royale is the kind of rulebook-burning experience Warzone needs

Activision has announced Black Ops Royale, a new mode that shifts away from the traditional loadout system seen in Call of Duty Warzone. Unlike previous games, Black Ops Royale will not feature custom loadouts; instead, players will find weapons with specific attachments, known as 'Build Archetypes,' throughout the environment. The game will also include four upgradeable tiers and a rare fifth tier called Ultra, which contains a fully maxed-out weapon with eight attachments. All equipment, perks, and killstreaks will be loot-based, requiring players to adapt and search for gear rather than relying on pre-set loadouts. Treyarch's associate creative director, Miles Leslie, indicated that discussions about moving away from the loadout system are ongoing, with potential for limited-time modes in the future.

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

RedOctane’s ‘next evolution in rhythm gaming’ sure looks a lot like 2007’s Rock Band

RedOctane became a significant player in the gaming industry in the early 2000s, peaking in 2005 with the release of Guitar Hero. Activision acquired RedOctane in 2006, but by 2010, the company was closed due to declining interest in rhythm games. In 2025, Embracer Group revived the brand as RedOctane Games, announcing a new title called Stage Tour, which resembles Guitar Hero but introduces new features and game modes. Stage Tour will function as a "band game" with solo play options, and a closed alpha test is planned ahead of its holiday season release. RedOctane Games aims to create a sustainable experience rather than a series of sequels, and there is uncertainty about the demand for a new rhythm game experience. Details on pricing and song availability are still pending.