In a surprise move, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has appeared on the Microsoft Store for PC, sparking excitement among gamers. Recently, we’ve seen a trend of older Call of Duty titles, including Modern Warfare, Ghosts, and Advanced Warfare, suddenly becoming available on this platform. This has led fans to speculate that Microsoft might plan to make these classics part of the Xbox Game Pass lineup.
Fans of the Call of Duty franchise are buzzing with anticipation over the prospect of titles like Black Ops 2 and the original Modern Warfare being added to Xbox Game Pass soon. Over the past few weeks, titles such as Advanced Warfare, Ghosts, WWII, Black Ops 3, and more have quietly surfaced on the Microsoft Store for PC. The latest addition, Black Ops 2, joined their ranks just this week.
After Microsoft’s landmark acquisition of Activision-Blizzard was finalized in October 2023—a transaction now renowned as the biggest in gaming history—the company gained control of an impressive array of game franchises. These include not only Call of Duty but also Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, and Diablo, among others. Since the acquisition, one pressing question has been on everyone’s mind: Would Microsoft bring these beloved older titles to its Game Pass service?
Interestingly, Call of Duty enthusiasts are now more convinced than ever that a major drop on Game Pass could be imminent. This belief stems primarily from the sudden resurgence of older Call of Duty titles on the Microsoft Store.
As for recent releases, Call of Duty entries like 2023’s Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops 6 are already part of Xbox Game Pass. Black Ops 6, notably, was the first in the series to launch directly onto the service on its release day. However, with this new wave of older games appearing on the PC store, especially Black Ops 2, fans are speculating that more classics could soon follow. While neither Microsoft nor Activision has confirmed such plans, the timing of these releases has certainly fanned the flames of speculation.
This resurrection of beloved classics on the Microsoft Store includes titles like the entire Modern Warfare trilogy, Advanced Warfare, Ghosts, and Black Ops 3, yet there’s more to be seen. The original Black Ops and World at War remain absent, just as newer entries from the franchise like Black Ops 4 and Cold War have not yet made their way to Game Pass—apart from Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops 6.
Black Ops 6’s entry into Game Pass was celebrated as a major victory, with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighting its record-setting day-one player count and its role in boosting Game Pass subscriptions. Whether this success will tempt Microsoft and Activision to add more legacy Call of Duty titles to the service remains to be seen.
To highlight one particular piece of Call of Duty history, we remember Black Ops 2—a game where players navigated a world of intrigue and betrayal. Released on November 13, 2012, this installment featured both online and local multiplayer options and was known for its intense gameplay. The game thrust players into a gritty narrative full of espionage, suspense, and high-stakes combat, capturing the imaginations of gamers worldwide.
