There has been a lot of questions floating around about major gaming franchises following Microsoft’s move to acquire Activision Blizzard earlier this year. At the time, we seemed to have gotten the answer that the popular FPS juggernaut Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation platforms past the previously established contract between PlayStation and Activision as a result of Xbox’s commitment to gaming everywhere for everyone.
However, as we get closer to the deal closing, and as more eyes (such as The Competition and Markets Authority) look closer at the deal in order to evaluate its impact on the industry as a whole, we now have statements from the chiefs of both Xbox and PlayStation that give us a better idea of what to expect. Or, perhaps more accurately, what not to.
Firstly, last week, The Verge reported that Microsoft will keep Call of Duty on PlayStation for “several more years” after the existing deal. Which isn’t a surprise considering a similar statement was made back in February. That article also states that Phil Spencer has written directly to PlayStation CEO, Jim Ryan, to share the commitment of keeping Call of Duty on PlayStation alongside the expected release of each new Activision Blizzard title to Xbox Game Pass on day one. But what does the vague “several more years” statement actually equate to?
Well today, in a report from GamesIndustry.biz, we get to hear PlayStation’s side of the story. More specifically, that Microsoft promised to keep Call of Duty on their platforms for three years past the current agreement. Which Jim Ryan says was “inadequate on so many levels” considering the nearly two-decade history that Call of Duty has on PlayStation.
This is still a developing story and it’s clear that a conclusive decision has not yet been made on how long Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation. Thinking practically, considering the massive player base that Call of Duty has on PlayStation, cutting out that market entirely will have a rather large impact on the franchise sales moving forward. Since all new Call of Duty games, including the upcoming Modern Warfare II, will launch on Game Pass, releasing on PlayStation is a good way to tap into those platform’s sales too. But there is a case to be made that Microsoft wouldn’t spend nearly $70 billion to share what will soon be one of their most lucrative franchises.
