Microsoft secure an agreement with PlayStation on Call of Duty

After months of conflict, Microsoft and Sony have finally come to an agreement that will keep Call of Duty on the PlayStation.

Microsoft Gaming and Sony have secured an agreement that will see the Call of Duty titles accessible on both PlayStation and Xbox consoles. PlayStation apparently turned down every offer Microsoft made before this, probably in an effort to stop the merger altogether. James Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, described one such unsuccessful deal with Sony as “inadequate on many levels.” This agreement was mentioned duuring the FTC vs. Mircosoft court case.

From Day One of this acquisition, we’ve been committed to addressing the concerns of regulators, platform and game developers, and consumers. 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… https://t.co/hMWjC58wRi

— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) July 16, 2023

 

There is no more information available on the Call of Duty deal with Sony, including the contract’s duration. The current agreement between Sony and Activision wasn’t scheduled to end until 2025, and the new one, which was reportedly signed for a period of ten years, is expected to keep the title on PlayStation until 2035. Microsoft has struck similar agreements with lesser-known cloud gaming companies as well as companies like Nvidia, allowing them to access the game through their cloud gaming platforms.

The $69 billion acquisition of Microsoft is almost complete

This agreement between Microsoft and Sony was reached over several months of negotiations and counteroffers, according to The Verge. Sony believed that Microsoft would pull off Activision’s COD from the PlayStation or deteriorate the quality of its upcoming titles for the PlayStation version, once the merger goes through.

Microsoft, however, proved in the most recent court action against the FTC that competitors like Sony, Nintendo, and other cloud gaming platforms will still have access to COD titles despite seizing complete ownership of the franchise. Microsoft has said that making the series exclusive is not in its financial best interest because the games sell for billions of dollars on a rival platform.

Now, Microsoft’s 69 billion dollar acquisition of Activision Blizzard appears to be almost complete, with competition limitations only delaying it in the UK. Earlier this week, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority delayed the date for making a final determination over the merger. According to reports, CMA had intended to formally forbid the deal on July 18, but Microsoft has submitted a thorough proposal with updated facts in an attempt to change the ruling.

The revised period will end on August 29, which means CMA will have an additional six weeks to assess the new proposal. Activision Blizzard’s acquisition by Microsoft is legally obligated to close before July 19; otherwise, the company would incur a $3 billion “breakup charge” or would have to request an extension.

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