In a significant development surrounding the potential acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft, the tech giants have signed a deal to ensure that Call of Duty games will continue to be available on PlayStation consoles.
The acquisition, initially proposed at a value of $69 billion, has faced delays as regulatory bodies have expressed concerns about its impact on the gaming market.
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The recent agreement between Sony and Microsoft marks an important milestone in this ongoing merger saga. The Gaming CEO Phil Spencer further announced the deal on Twitter.
We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and @PlayStation have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. We look forward to a future where players globally have more choice to play their favorite games.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) July 16, 2023
Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith also shared his thoughts on Twitter, expressing their commitment to addressing regulatory concerns and ensuring broad access to Call of Duty across multiple platforms.
In February, Microsoft entered a 10-year agreement with Nintendo to bring Xbox games, including Call of Duty titles, to Nintendo consoles.
Subsequently, the company forged similar long-term agreements with cloud gaming services like GeForce Now and Boosteroid.
Sony had initially been hesitant to strike a deal with Microsoft, as the PlayStation maker had hoped that authorities would ultimately prevent the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
However, last week, a federal judge denied a preliminary injunction request from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), suggesting that a resolution with the CMA could pave the way for the acquisition to proceed.
The change in Sony’s stance regarding the Call of Duty deal likely stems from these recent developments.
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While Microsoft has not explicitly detailed the games covered by the agreement with Sony, we have been able to confirm that it is a 10-year commitment focused on Call of Duty.
With further updates expected from Microsoft, the FTC, and the CMA in the coming days, the future of the merger and the availability of Call of Duty on various platforms remains an evolving story to watch closely.
