While Microsoft is committed to keeping Call Of Duty multiplatform, its arrangement with Sony doesn’t include any other Activision IPs.
Despite Microsoft’s repeated insistence to keep launching Call Of Duty games on PlayStation once it owns Activision Blizzard, Sony publicly expressed little to no faith that the Xbox company would uphold such a promise.
Even after Microsoft bumped its original offer up to a 10-year arrangement, Sony refused to play ball, pointing to the Xbox company’s purchase of ZeniMax Media as proof that it couldn’t be trusted.
However, behind-the-scenes circumstances have clearly changed as Sony has finally capitulated and entered a ‘binding agreement’ to ensure future Call Of Duty games will come to PlayStation post-acquisition.
Sony itself hasn’t issued a statement on the situation, but this news does come after Microsoft won its recent legal battle with US regulator the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
As a reminder, the FTC sought to block the Activision Blizzard acquisition but failed. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has also entered new discussions with Microsoft, meaning it could reverse its original decision to block the acquisition.
With the acquisition looking more likely than ever to go through, perhaps Sony figured there was little reason to keep resisting despite its apparent fears of Microsoft sabotaging PlayStation versions of Call Of Duty games.
Although the recent court case did reveal that PlayStation boss Jim Ryan was originally not concerned about Call Of Duty becoming an Xbox exclusive, which Microsoft argued proved that his and Sony’s fears were unfounded.
‘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,’ tweets Xbox boss Phil Spencer. ‘We look forward to a future where players globally have more choice to play their favourite games.’
Microsoft’s vice chair and president Brad Smith adds, ‘Even after we cross the finish line for this deal’s approval, we will remain focused on ensuring that Call Of Duty remains available on more platforms and for more consumers than ever before,’ alluding to its other arrangements with Nintendo and various streaming services.
Xbox’s head of communications, Kari Perez, confirmed with The Verge that this arrangement will still only last for 10 years, however, and that it only applies to Call Of Duty.
This means Microsoft is under no obligation to keep other Activision Blizzard franchises multiplatform so don’t be too shocked if future Crash Bandicoot or Spyro games are Xbox only.
Follow Metro Gaming on Twitter and email us at [email protected]
To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.
Sign up to all the exclusive gaming content, latest releases before they’re seen on the site.
Source: Read Full Article