By A lot of these have licensing issues, though
- by Ben Kerry
So, we’re starting to see some fresh discussion on a newly-compiled list of Microsoft-owned games currently missing from Xbox Game Pass, as fans question why the Xbox owner is reluctant to put all of its titles on the subscription service. There are plenty of strong cases for questions to be asked here, including a big batch of older Call of Duty titles and some of Activision’s more niche back catalogue that remain absent – but a lot of these titles would be pretty difficult to include in 2025 on modern Xbox hardware, despite fans clamouring for more to be added.
Going over the selection of titles here — as compiled and shared by Xbox fan Crusader3456 and Windows Central’s Jez Corden — a big batch of Microsoft-owned games that are missing from XGP have been gathered up – mostly as a result of the company’s recent Bethesda / Activision Blizzard acquisitions. The list generally sticks to OG Xbox titles and newer (which makes sense) and covers everything from ABK’s old Marvel titles to Tony Hawk, Transformers, Guitar Hero and more. It’s an interesting batch of games (except for a few errors like DOOM 2016 and The Elder Scrolls Online, which are in the library), but just a little bit of logic can be applied to why most of these games aren’t on the service – and likely never will be.
The full list is huge and can be found over at Windows Central
First and perhaps most obviously are games with strict licensing issues – and a big chunk of these can be deemed redundant as a result of this. Activision’s 007 games, Guitar/DJ Hero titles, Marvel games, Tony Hawk titles and other movie/TV adaptations can be wiped off the list; it’s just too complicated to get those back and playable on modern hardware / subscription services, in most cases. Of course, you’ve also got the physical controls issue with the likes of Guitar/DJ Hero!
The Activision Blizzard library isn’t the only area where licensing issues are a thing, either. The compilation also features all four Project Gotham Racing titles from Xbox Game Studios – all of which include official vehicle and music licenses that will have expired in this day and age. We know that Microsoft owns the PGR IP, but it’s not as easy as just re-releasing those old games and making them accessible on Xbox Game Pass, especially where non-original content has been used in the form of music and vehicle licenses.
Of course, there are some valid entries on this list — Activision’s back catalogue of CoD games remains a bizarre omission — as do some of the other older titles here that shouldn’t contain major licensing hurdles, but we don’t think Microsoft is deliberately holding back a massive list or anything. Bringing back older games is rarely easy behind the scenes, and Microsoft has been pretty diligent at that with its backwards compatibility service over the years! We reckon the team has done a pretty good job so far, and we look forward to future Xbox, Bethesda and Activision games landing in the service on day one.
What do you make of this discussion here in 2025? Happy with what’s on XGP, or do you want more from Microsoft? Talk to us about it down below.
[source windowscentral.com, via reddit.com]
Ben is a News Writer at Pure Xbox, and is a fan of action, racing and straight-up shootin’ in any Xbox game he can get his hands on. When he’s not clutching an Xbox controller like his life depends on it, Ben spends his time listening to music that’s far too old for him, watching football on the telly and probably eating somewhere.