Throughout the week, Microsoft’s buyout of Activision Blizzard has been a consistent speaking point. There’s been a variety of communicate approximately Activision Blizzard video games being different to Xbox structures as soon as the purchase completes and no concrete solutions from Microsoft. While Xbox boss Phil Spencer has issued a brand new declaration at the matter, what he had to mention is some thing however clear.
In a submit to Twitter closing night, Spencer stated that he’s been in touch with the management at Sony to speak approximately the destiny of Activision Blizzard video games on PlayStation. “Had proper calls this week with leaders at Sony,” Spencer stated. “I showed our rationale to honor all present agreements upon acquisition of Activision Blizzard and our preference to hold Call of Duty on PlayStation. Sony is an critical a part of our industry, and we cost our relationship.”
That appears quite straightforward, however there’s certainly plenty to unpack with this tweet. For starters, Spencer says some thing we already knew: that Microsoft will honor the contracts Sony already had in area with Activision Blizzard whilst the purchase became announced. Of course, there has by no means truly been any query that Microsoft might do that, thinking about that it made the equal genuine dedication whilst it bought ZeniMax Media and its subsidiaries closing year.
The exciting element comes after that once Spencer says that he’s expressed “our preference to hold Call of Duty on PlayStation.” While that sounds encouraging at the beginning and might even advocate that Microsoft desires to retain liberating Call of Duty as multiplatform video games, the usage of the word “preference” ought to imply that Spencer has basically placed the ball in Sony’s court.
For instance, we wouldn’t be amazed to analyze that Spencer is the use of Call of Duty as a bargaining chip to probably get Xbox Game Pass on PlayStation consoles. Many instances withinside the past, Spencer has advised that Microsoft desires to get Xbox Game Pass on as many structures as viable, aleven though a lot of us predicted Sony now no longer to play ball in that regard. However, if permitting Xbox Game Pass on PlayStation is the handiest manner to get Call of Duty video games at the platform, then Sony is probably persuaded.
Of course, given how an awful lot of a moneymaker the franchise is, there’s continually the risk that Microsoft does surely plan to hold Call of Duty multiplatform and not using a strings attached. While some thing is viable on the subject of subjects that aren’t but settled, we’re guessing that likely isn’t the course Microsoft goes to take. We’re genuinely open to being incorrect and having the massive M wonder us, aleven though.
It’s really well worth noting that we’re likely now no longer going to get direct affirmation of Microsoft’s plans till after the Activision Blizzard acquisition is complete. That’s predicted to take place someday in Microsoft’s 2023 monetary year, which kicks off in July 2022 and leads to June 2023. In the meantime, count on masses greater carefully-worded statements from Spencer and Activision Blizzard concerning exclusivity plans submit-acquisition.