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- Microsoft and Activision Blizzard closed a $68.7 billion deal last year.
- Sony was reluctant to accept the merger but ultimately signed a deal for Call of Duty on PlayStation.
- Recent comments from Jim Ryan confirm that Sony was quite pleased with this outcome.
Activision Blizzard and Xbox merged over five months ago. While Microsoft ended up successful last year, it is easy to forget the trials and tribulations it went through to complete the merger.
Among others, PlayStation was strictly against the deal, refusing to sign a contract over Call of Duty until the last moment. However, with all said and done, it seems the gaming giant is pleased with the outcome.
Why it matters: Call of Duty is a billion-dollar annual franchise, with Modern Warfare 2 making nearly $1 billion in the first three days. Therefore, Jim Ryan was not keen on the series becoming an Xbox exclusive.
PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan recently appeared in a video from CNBC where he was asked about his thoughts on Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition.
When asked why Sony was so concerned about this merger in particular, Jim Ryan pointed to the sheer magnitude of Call of Duty. Despite PlayStation’s initial refusal to accept the deal, Microsoft and Sony eventually signed a 10-year deal.
This contract guarantees Call of Duty titles on PlayStation consoles for the next decade, though specifics of this agreement remain a mystery.
We were absolutely thrilled to be able to negotiate a deal with Microsoft.
-Jim Ryan
When asked why Sony refused to accept the contract until the very last moment, Jim Ryan did not say much. However, he stated that the deal was later amended, hinting at more favorable terms in the final agreement.
A similar deal was also signed between Microsoft and Nintendo. However, Nintendo was much quicker to accept the terms since Call of Duty has not been a major part of its ecosystem in the last decade.
Jim Ryan is set to leave Sony Interactive Entertainment this year after announcing his retirement in late 2023.
In April, Hiroki Totoki will take over the role of CEO, but Jim Ryan has left a huge legacy behind, including his efforts in securing the best possible Call of Duty deal for PlayStation.
Following the merger, much of Call of Duty’s future remains a mystery. Call of Duty 2024 is expected to launch as a day-one Game Pass title, but we await official word from Xbox on the matter.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 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.
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