After months of back-and-forth and over Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard acquisition, Sony have agreed to a deal with Microsoft.
It looks like the dust is finally settling after the FTC vs Microsoft trial. With the American regulator losing its case against Microsoft (pending appeal), it's looking likely that the Activision-Blizzard acquisition will go through.
And Sony, who was putting up a bitter fight against the acquisition, have finally accepted the outcome. They've agreed to a deal with Microsoft to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation. This is a win-win situation for both parties because Call of Duty is a huge franchise on PlayStation and Microsoft stands to benefit from its sales on Sony's platform.
That's right: Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation
Call of Duty players with PlayStation consoles were concerned about the acquisition because they were worried they'd have to buy an Xbox console to play their favorite game. However, as things stand, it looks like they won't need to worry anymore. Microsoft had originally offered a contract to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation, which Sony refused to sign. After the FTC lost its case against the acquisition, it looks like Sony has accepted the deal and the franchise will remain on PlayStation.
Related articles
10-Year Deal similar to Nintendo
Earlier this year, Microsoft agreed to a 10-year agreement with Nintendo over Call of Duty presence on Switch consoles. It appears the deal with Sony is along similar lines. Microsoft's original proposal offered to keep ALL Activision-Blizzard titles on Sony's console till 2027. As confirmed by The Verge's Tom Warren, however, Sony accepted a revised proposal, which is limited to just Call of Duty on their platform, albeit for 10 years. Overall, it makes sense because Call of Duty is a franchise that rakes in the profits from Activision-Blizzard.
At the end of the day, this is good news for Call of Duty fans, especially the ones on PlayStation around the world. Call of Duty is among the biggest cash cows in the gaming industry. It's clear to see why it was among the major talking points during the FTC trial. Microsoft is very likely to complete the acquisition soon after overcoming most of the legal hurdles around it.
