Xbox Game Pass: fans claim games that are still missing, but licenses are the big obstacle

The absence of classics like Call of Duty or Project Gotham Racing in Game Pass raises doubts among the community.

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Xbox Game Pass has become the central pillar of Microsoft’s strategy, with a catalog that now exceeds 1,000 games across console, PC, and cloud. Despite this enormous variety, Xbox fans continue to point out the same issue: why are so many historic titles from the company itself missing from the service?

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In forums like Reddit and on social media, the debate has been reignited after the publication of a list that compiled Microsoft games (including recently acquired titles from Bethesda and Activision Blizzard, shared by Windows Central) that are still not part of Game Pass. These include renowned franchises like Call of Duty, Tony Hawk, Guitar Hero, and even the beloved Project Gotham Racing. For many, this is a missed opportunity to add even more value to the service.

Why are so many games missing?

The answer, although unsatisfying for fans, is clear: licensing agreements. Many of the titles that players are asking for are subject to music, brand, movie, or peripheral agreements that expired years ago and would be very costly or impossible to renew.

Examples like Tony Hawk or 007 games illustrate the problem well: relying on music licenses, sponsorships, and agreements with film studios, re-releasing them would require renegotiating each of these contracts. The same applies to Guitar Hero or DJ Hero, where there’s also a dependence on plastic instruments that are no longer manufactured, making their reappearance on modern consoles almost unviable.

In the case of Project Gotham Racing, although Microsoft owns the IP, each installment was filled with officially licensed cars and soundtracks composed of commercial themes. Re-releasing or including them in Game Pass would imply signing new agreements with manufacturers and record labels, something unrealistic for games over a decade old.

The most painful absences

• Other Activision games like Transformers: War for Cybertron or Marvel titles remain in limbo due to similar issues. On the Bethesda side, although most of their major franchises are already on Game Pass, fans still dream of seeing special editions and more complete collections added to the service. Games like Singularity, another lost in limbo, are also missing from Activision.

Xbox’s effort with retrocompatibility

It’s essential to remember that Microsoft has been one of the few companies to work seriously on preserving its classic games. The retrocompatibility program rescued hundreds of Xbox and Xbox 360 titles, and many can now be played on Series with graphical improvements. However, not everything depends on Xbox. When external licenses come into play, the company has its hands tied.

What is clear is that Xbox Game Pass continues to grow with day-one releases, agreements with independent studios, and a constant flow of third-party launches. The service has never been stronger, but this recurring debate demonstrates players’ interest in seeing more of Xbox’s historic legacy within the platform.