The Call of Duty franchise has made Activision Blizzard over $30 billion in revenue since the first game came out in 2003. So, can you blame Sony for worrying that Microsoft, its chief rival in the gaming space, will own the marquee shooter series?
As Microsoft continues forward with its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the tech giant has contended with public criticism and an anxious gaming community. To make matters worse, the pile of regulatory bodies investigating the deal continues to grow.
In the meantime, the CEO of Microsoft gaming, Phil Spencer, is using this time to tell audiences all the positive news that the buyout will bring. For example, Game Pass will benefit from the addition of Overwatch, Diablo, and Call of Duty, as soon as the authorities approve the sale. Spencer also guarantees that Microsoft won't be keeping Call of Duty to itself once that happens. At least, not for a while.
Here's what Spencer sent his PlayStation contemporary in a written letter, as per The Verge: In January, we provided a signed agreement to Sony to guarantee Call of Duty on PlayStation, with feature and content parity, for at least several more years beyond the current Sony contract, an offer that goes well beyond typical gaming industry agreements. An attempt to take the fight to Call of Duty will benefit consumers if Sony wants to have a similarly expansive shooter available on the PlayStation.