Microsoft has signed various deals to convince regulators to approve the Activision Blizzard merger. This includes partnerships with companies like Nintendo and cloud providers like GeForce Now and Boosteroid. However, PlayStation was not willing to sign a deal.
With Microsoft’s latest victory over the FTC, the Activision merger seems likely to succeed, and PlayStation has also realized this. Following the recent decisions, PlayStation has agreed to sign a deal for Call of Duty.
Why it matters: Jim Ryan previously claimed he did not want to sign a deal. Sony only wanted to block the deal, but this seems unlikely now.
We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and @PlayStation have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. We look forward to a future where players globally have more choice to play their favorite games.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) July 16, 2023
The announcement was made by the Xbox CEO, Phil Spencer.
He has been looking to sign a deal with the gaming giant for several months, and his efforts have finally been successful. This is also the most significant indicator of the merger’s completion in the coming weeks.
Following the recent court loss, the FTC sought to appeal the case. However, Judge Corley denied the appeal, and the regulator is now unable to intervene in the merger anytime soon.
Furthermore, the CMA is looking to discuss the merger with Microsoft again. All of these measures and the impending closure of the acquisition have likely motivated PlayStation to finally agree to a deal.
The agreement will ensure PlayStation and its fanbase continue to receive Call of Duty games for at least a decade.
Microsoft has also guaranteed feature parity for the franchise, promising to bring the best possible version of the games on all platforms. As such, PlayStation users should not be concerned about potential downgrades to the series on their preferred platform.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
