Sony and Microsoft have finally come to a legally binding deal to guarantee the future of Call of Duty on PlayStation, which is a significant move.
The arrangement, which was officially announced by Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, put an end to the heated conflict between the two businesses during the last year. This resolution was passed in response to Sony's objections and worries about Microsoft's planned purchase of Activision Blizzard.
Questions concerning the length of the pact remain unanswered since the terms of the agreement are still secret. There have been rumors that the deal may be similar to Microsoft's 10-year agreements with Nintendo and several cloud gaming companies, per The Verge.
It signifies a possible long-term commitment to maintaining Call of Duty accessible on PlayStation platforms, which is of significant importance to both the gaming industry and fans alike.
Because of concerns that Microsoft may make the successful title an Xbox exclusive or even hurt the PlayStation versions of the game, Sony was reluctant to strike a Call of Duty contract with them.
However, a startling email from PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan was shown during the FTC v. Microsoft case, suggesting that he was not actually worried about Call of Duty exclusivity and expressed confidence in seeing the game on PlayStation for years to come. Microsoft's attorneys alleged that Ryan had originally asked Xbox CEO Phil Spencer for promises about Call of Duty in early 2022.
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
PlayStation CEO Reportedly Dismayed Over Deal
The current deal is the result of 18 months of negotiations and counteroffers between Microsoft and Sony on the future of Activision content on the PlayStation. Notably, a list of Activision titles that will continue to be available on PlayStation was included in an email sent by Phil Spencer to Ryan on August 26.
Ryan, however, voiced his displeasure with the decision, which caused a breach in communication between the two CEOs. After this occurrence, Spencer made it known that Call of Duty will be on PlayStation for a number of years after the current Sony deal expired.
Spencer's choice to make contract discussions public was questioned by Ryan, who also thought the offer was "inadequate on many levels."
The news of this agreement comes after a US court decision on July 11 supporting Microsoft's completion of the purchase of Activision Blizzard.
The last remaining hurdle is the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), thus Microsoft and the CMA have agreed to temporarily halt legal proceedings in order to investigate the likelihood of striking a settlement, according to Polygon.
Brad Smith, the president of Microsoft, expressed the company's readiness to alter the deal to allay the CMA's worries.
Old Call of Duty Games Getting Popular Again
Meanwhile, Activision's patching of numerous servers has been credited for the rise in popularity of Call of Duty titles from the past years.
As more users return to these virtually dormant platforms, rumors have begun to circulate that these titles may be included in Xbox Game Pass as part of the Microsoft and Activision merger, as reported by Insider Gaming. Particularly notable examples of the revival are Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops.
Uncertainty exists around whether or not these games will be formally added to Xbox Game Pass or continue to be available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles under backward compatibility.
However, the resurgence in popularity for these vintage Call of Duty titles has thrilled fans who cherished its "heyday" from 2007 to 2012.
