There has been a lot of conflict between Microsoft and its rivals as a result of its ambiguous acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Sony has specifically expressed its fears about Microsoft’s potential ability to wrest key Activision titles away from PlayStation. Which might cause Sony to suffer significant hardware losses.
While antitrust watchdogs from all over the world are looking at the acquisition, Google, Apple, and other significant parties have even been invited to speak on it. However, there is one business about which we haven’t heard much: Nintendo.
Nintendo is finally getting its moment after spending so much time on the sidelines. Microsoft reportedly struck a deal to bring Call of Duty—possibly Activision’s most popular franchise-to Nintendo to avoid further regulatory scrutiny.
Phil Spencer, the CEO of Xbox, tweeted the information late on Tuesday night. After Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King merged, “Microsoft has entered into a 10-year commitment to offering Call of Duty to Nintendo,” he said. Microsoft is dedicated to assisting in the distribution of more games to more people.
Spencer mentioned that Microsoft and Valve have a similar agreement. Which would keep Call of Duty on Steam for an additional ten years. The agreement guarantees PC gamers will still have access to the franchise on their preferred gadget.
Approximately 25% of Call of Duty players are PC gamers, according to a (large-scale, albeit unofficial) Twitter poll. So it is in Microsoft’s best interest to keep the game on-platform. The signing of both contracts by Microsoft is an unexpected move.
Before this week, it was ludicrous to think that any Call of Duty game would ever be playable on the Nintendo Switch. Because the franchise hasn’t been on a Nintendo console since the Wii. Microsoft creates PCs and PC operating systems. But it had the option to ignore Steam in favor of retaining recently purchased franchises on the Microsoft Store, its virtual storefront.
Microsoft was anticipated to provide Sony with the same 10-year Call of Duty agreement. This was due to the likelihood that the European Union would oppose the acquisition early the next year. Microsoft claims, however, that it has already made a similar offer to Sony without success.
If so, it appears unlikely that Microsoft and Sony will ever reach a pre-acquisition. Understanding the lifespan of key Activision titles on PlayStation. If anything, Sony should feel pressured to (even reluctantly) remove its objection to the merger. Because of the guaranteed distribution on Nintendo and Steam.
It is not yet known when Call of Duty will be made available on the Switch under Microsoft’s partnership with Nintendo. If it does, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision is anticipated to close in the summer of 2023. At this point, it will be up to developers to prepare the series for a brand-new generation of gaming devices.
