Since Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard in the biggest acquisition in video game history, the Redmond giant has been relatively slow when it comes to releasing actual titles from the megaton studio on Xbox Game Pass. So far, the only Activision title to appear on the subscription service has been "Diablo 4" in March. That is apparently about to change.

As reported by Windows Central, "Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy," "Spyro Reignited Trilogy," and "Tony Hawk's 1 + 2" could be coming to Game Pass "soon." The site suggests that the three remasters will be available to subscribers during the same month, but considering that the first source of information is an eXputer forum leaker, it should be taken with more salt than is normally found in tequila.

Windows Central supports the leaker's claims, and if this information proves to be correct, it could lead to Microsoft putting Activision Blizzard titles on the game pass. Given the tremendous $68.7 billion cost of this merger, it is understandable that Team Green would want to hurry up and start returning tangible benefits to its subscribers.

Granted, it is unlikely that fairly old remakes of titles such as "Crash," "Spyro," and "Tony Hawk" will move the needle for a service that Microsoft does not normally shout about (specific game pass subscriber numbers are seldom reported). Nevertheless, these releases are at least another example of how Phil Spencer and his co-management team are trying to increase the amount of Activision Blizzard content on their platform.

It is already known that "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6" will be available on Game Pass on day one, but PS5 players will have to pay full price for this blockbuster FPS sequel.

Even if they miss out on the aforementioned remakes, the "Crash N. Sane Remastered Trilogy" and "Spyro Reignited Trilogy" are both solid and faithful collections; "Tony Hawk's 1" + "Tony Hawk's 2" are near perfect, with the "Crash N. Sane Remastered Trilogy" and "Spyro Reignited Trilogy" being the best of the three. Both are excellent and pay homage to a franchise that at one time was legendary.

Fair warning, however: the "Crash Bandicoot N. Sein Trilogy" is at times unpleasantly difficult. Naughty Dog's remastered platform trilogy is much harder than I remember it being, and this collection makes perfect jumps with polygons nearly intact from the original PS1 version.

With the PS5 outselling the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S 3-to-1 on this generation of consoles, Microsoft continues to need new reasons to keep players engaged in the game path.

If nothing else, this latest rumor at least suggests that the Redmont giant is not going to give up on its $9.99/month/£9.99 subscription service any time soon.