Classic Call of Duty titles surface on the Microsoft Store, fueling Game Pass speculation

What just happened? A trio of classic Call of Duty titles recently appeared with new listings on the Microsoft Store: Call of Duty + United Offensive, Call of Duty 2, and the iconic Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Historically, such store listings have signaled that these games are being prepared for inclusion in the Game Pass library, either on console, PC, or both.

This doesn't necessarily mean the deployments are imminent. In some cases, months have passed between a listing's appearance and the game's arrival on Game Pass. However, it seems likely that fans eager to revisit these classic campaigns won't have to wait too long.

Call of Duty + United Offensive is a particularly intriguing addition to the list. Not only is it a beloved expansion to the groundbreaking original Call of Duty from 2003, but it was also a PC-exclusive title that never made it to consoles back in the day.

The potential Call of Duty rollout aligns with what we've seen following Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard last year. Instead of an all-at-once game drop, the Xbox team has opted for a gradual integration of Activision's extensive library of hits into Game Pass, releasing them bit by bit.

In recent months, however, the pace of additions has noticeably accelerated. Beyond the high-profile day-one launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Game Pass has welcomed the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, and even heavyweights like Diablo 4 and StarCraft.

Adding these older Call of Duty titles to the service offers Microsoft another opportunity to leverage one of gaming's biggest franchises to attract new Game Pass subscribers and retain its existing base. It also provides fans an easy way to revisit the iconic campaigns and multiplayer experiences that have cemented Call of Duty as a cornerstone of modern gaming.

Behind the scenes, Microsoft has been hard at work integrating Activision's catalog into the Xbox ecosystem. This includes bringing Battle.net functionality to Xbox apps and ensuring cross-compatibility through Xbox Play Anywhere for PC and console.

While neither Microsoft nor Activision have officially commented on these recent developments, the timing is noteworthy. With The Game Awards 2024 just around the corner, it wouldn't be surprising if these titles are part of a larger announcement.