Call of Duty is central to Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Sony is opposing the deal primarily because it claims that Microsoft will make the popular first-person shooter series an exclusive title. The opposition to the deal has since gained some ground, with the EU Commission and UK CMA launching in-depth probes into the deal, citing antitrust concerns. Similarly, the FTC is reportedly poised to block the deal following its own investigation. Microsoft has recently said it was willing to work with regulators to have the deal approved but would also fight any lawsuit blocking the deal. The company is offering concessions to other parties to allay fears that the deal violates antitrust laws. Microsoft recently confirmed that it has offered Sony new a deal to keep the Call of Duty franchise on the PlayStation for ten years. Now, Phil Spencer wants to double down on that commitment in a massive power move.
I‘m also pleased to confirm that Microsoft has committed to continue to offer Call of Duty on Steam simultaneously to Xbox after we have closed the merger with Activision Blizzard King. — Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) December 7, 2022 Microsoft’s President Brad Smith echoed Spencer’s announcement, saying that the deal with Nintendo is good for competition and consumers. “Our acquisition will bring Call of Duty to more gamers and more platforms than ever before. That’s good for competition and good for consumers,” Smith tweeted. “Thank you, Nintendo. Any day Sony wants to sit down and talk, we’ll be happy to hammer out a 10-year deal for PlayStation as well.” The Microsoft announcement is interesting since Nintendo doesn’t have a platform capable of running the current Call of Duty title. The Switch is showing its age and is barely able to run Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, a Nintendo-exclusive title. Microsoft may want to wait for the rumored Switch successor before bringing Call of Duty to the handheld console. In October, Spencer said that he would “love to see [Call of Duty] on the Switch, I’d love to see the game playable on many different screens. Our intent is to treat Call of Duty like Minecraft.” Microsoft reportedly wants to release new Call of Duty titles on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo. The announcement from Spencer also coincides with Microsoft’s closed-door meeting with the US FTC on Wednesday. Microsoft’s Brad Smith and other key executives are expected to meet with FTC chair Lina Khan and other commissioners to discuss the merger. Nintendo has not issued a statement regarding Phil Spencer’s announcement as of writing.
