Microsoft Explains Tony Hawk 1+2 XBOX Game Pass Removal
Microsoft has confirmed that the removal of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 from Xbox Game Pass was due to a licensing issue. The 2020 remaster, published by Activision (now under Microsoft ownership), was announced as part of the initial wave of Xbox Game Pass additions for July but was unexpectedly delisted from the service’s release calendar less than a week before its scheduled launch.
The surprise removal prompted confusion among players, particularly given that Activision is now owned by Microsoft, raising questions about why licensing obstacles would affect a first-party title. However, Microsoft confirmed through journalist Jez Corden that the removal stemmed from licensing-related complications, though specific details about which licenses expired or require renewal were not disclosed.
Microsoft stated that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 will eventually return to Xbox Game Pass, though no timeframe for its return was provided. This incident underscores the ongoing licensing challenges in the gaming industry, particularly for titles involving music catalogs and celebrity likenesses that require separate licensing agreements independent of platform ownership changes.