For several months, Xbox manufacturer Microsoft has been trying to buy publisher Activision Blizzard. This deal involves numerous well-known franchises like Diablo, World of Warcraft, and Call of Duty. Competitor Sony is not pleased with this and especially CoD has repeatedly become a topic of contention. Xbox head Phil Spencer apparently has no more patience for the bickering and states that Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation as long as gamers want it.
This is what has happened so far:
- In early 2022, Microsoft announced its intention to acquire Activision Blizzard for around $70 billion. The news astonished the entire gaming world.
- The acquisition would open up several opportunities, particularly for gamers on Xbox and PC. It has been suggested that players might never need to purchase Blizzard’s big AAA titles again – at least not directly.
- However, PlayStation maker Sony is pushing back and resisting. Although Phil Spencer has repeatedly confirmed that Call of Duty will stay on PlayStation, Sony and even some regulatory bodies are doubting that the deal is legally permissible.
This is what Spencer is saying now: In an interview with the US news site The Verge, Phil Spencer has now spoken more clearly. As The Verge itself headlines, he wants to “settle the debate once and for all”.
In the interview, Spencer states verbatim: “We believe Call of Duty will be on PlayStation as long as players want it. This is not a competitive threat against PlayStation; it’s a pragmatic perspective.” The interviewer, Nilay Patel from Decoder, mentions game streaming, and Spencer interrupts:
Natives. Call of Duty. On PlayStation. Not linked to having to use Game Pass […] If they want a streaming version of Call of Duty, we can do that as well, just like we do with our consoles. But I have no ace up my sleeve.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 runs great on PlayStation, runs great on Xbox. The next game, the next, next, next, next, next… all native on the platform, no obligation to subscribe to Game Pass. Sony does not have to offer Game Pass for that to happen.
Nothing is hidden. We want to bring Call of Duty to PlayStation without any weird: “Aha, I found the hook’ when Ohil said: ‘our intention’!” I understand the concerns of some people on this topic and I am trying to be as clear as I can.
Phil Spencer in the interview via Twitter
Patel notes that Spencer is apparently responding to some tweets and complaints from third parties that have surfaced in the past. Spencer himself sounds somewhat weary of the discussion and addresses many points as clearly and unequivocally as possible, but only laughs at the comment.
Modern Warfare 2 is a significant success. Some players even believe it is “one of the best Call of Duty games.” Here’s the trailer for the celebrated campaign:
Call of Duty stays on PlayStation – “No Game Pass, no hook”
Spencer does not refer to PlayStation 5 or any specific console but states that Call of Duty will remain native on PlayStation. Native, without hooks, without further obligations such as linking to Xbox Game Pass.
This likely stems from the fact that his last statements were all picked apart word by word. Sony and some fans saw in the promise to bring Call of Duty “for many years” to PlayStation a loophole that could be circumvented at any time.
Phil Spencer also clarifies that a contract “forever” would not be realistic. But he makes it clear that he does not intend to remove Call of Duty as a franchise from PlayStation, if the acquisition indeed goes through.
What does the statement mean for the deal? Phil Spencer’s assurance does not yet mean that every commission will now approve the deal. Recently, there were particularly concerns in the United Kingdom, with some peculiar demands being made.
The reviewing authorities are supposed to decide independently and based on applicable laws, not based on orally made assurances. Nevertheless, Spencer’s promise might counter some arguments from Sony.
The entire dispute over the acquisition is likely to drag on and occupy many people. The topic is even engaging many gamers, and recently there was a fierce argument on Twitter about it:
EU employee reveals himself as PlayStation player, sparking heated debate about Microsoft and CoD
