Sony and Microsoft agree Call of Duty stays on PlayStation
July 17, 2023
Microsoft on Sunday said it signed a deal with Sony that would ensure that the Call of Duty video game series remained available on PlayStation gaming consoles.
Microsoft's move to acquire Activision Blizzard, the maker of the best-selling Call of Duty games, has raised concerns that it can lead to anti-competitive behavior .
Sony was worried that Microsoft would make Call of Duty and other Activision games exclusive to its Xbox console, which rivals Playstation.
Sunday's "binding agreement" means that Call of Duty will continue to be released on both the Xbox and the Sony Playstation.
"We look forward to a future where players globally have more choice to play their favorite games," Phil Spencer, Microsoft's gaming CEO, wrote on Twitter.
Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition
Microsoft's announcement that it intended to acquire Activision Blizzard in January 2022 sparked fears and led US and British regulators to pull the brakes on the acquisition's finalization.
Microsoft President Brad Smith said the company was committed to address any concerns posed by regulators, developers or 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 more platforms and for more consumers than ever before," he said on Twitter.
Microsoft's proposed purchase of Activision Blizzard could be finalized by Tuesday.
The $68.7 billion (around €61 billion) acquisition deal would be the biggest of its kind in gaming industry history.
rmt/lo (AFP, Reuters)