The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft has been a topic of conversation in the gaming industry lately. One major concern has been whether Call of Duty, a popular shooter franchise, would become exclusive to Xbox consoles, negatively affecting PlayStation’s ability to compete in the console space. However, according to the European Commission’s executive vice president Margrethe Vestager, Microsoft wouldn’t “shoot itself in the foot” by stopping sales of Call of Duty games to the much larger PlayStation player base.
Vestager noted that in Europe, the PS5 is outselling the Xbox Series X|S by a ratio of 4:1, a significant install base that Microsoft cannot ignore. In response, Microsoft has promised PlayStation a ten-year commitment to continue releasing the Call of Duty franchise on PS5, PS4, and any subsequent systems that Sony may release throughout the duration of the deal. It’s not yet clear if Sony has signed this deal, but it is likely to hold its ground while UK regulators continue to block the acquisition.
While this news may be a relief to PlayStation players, it raises questions about the fate of some of Activision Blizzard’s smaller franchises, like Crash Bandicoot. The acquisition was recently approved in China, but Microsoft has appealed to the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal to reconsider the block in the United Kingdom. The clock is ticking on this ordeal, and if proceedings drag on for much longer, Microsoft may need to renegotiate with Activision Blizzard to extend the deal’s deadline or pull out entirely.
In conclusion, while the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft continues to face regulatory hurdles, Xbox consoles will not have exclusive rights to the Call of Duty franchise, as Microsoft would not want to lose the much larger PlayStation player base. The fate of smaller franchises remains uncertain, however, as the acquisition continues to face challenges. As the gaming industry eagerly awaits the outcome of this drama, only time will tell what the future holds for both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard, as well as PlayStation and Xbox players.
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According to https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2023/05/xbox-wouldnt-shoot-itself-in-the-foot-by-yanking-call-of-duty-off-ps5-says-eu
The material in this article is written on the basis of another article.
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