TECHNOLOGY

MICROSOFT AND SONY REACH 'BINDING AGREEMENT' TO ENSURE CALL OF DUTY STAYS ON PLAYSTATION AMID ACTIVISION BLIZZARD ACQUISITION

Microsoft and Sony's Pact Secures Call of Duty's Future on PlayStation.

19.07.2023
BY SUKSMAJATI KUMARA
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According to a recent report by Techradar.com, Microsoft has secured a "binding agreement" with Sony, assuring fans that Call of Duty will continue to be available on PlayStation consoles after the anticipated acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, took to Twitter to announce the agreement, aiming to address concerns about potential monopolization following Microsoft's victory in its anti-trust case with the US Federal Trade Commission.

This move comes as a relief to gamers who feared that Call of Duty might become an Xbox exclusive, similar to the fate of future Bethesda releases, after Microsoft acquired the studio. The gaming community had been speculating whether Activision Blizzard's titles would follow suit if the merger went ahead.

However, Microsoft still faces challenges ahead. The FTC has appealed its court loss in the US, and the UK's decision to block the deal remains despite Microsoft's appeals. Additionally, the EU's approval of the acquisition came with significant caveats relating to cloud gaming.

Microsoft had previously made deals to address monopoly concerns, such as entering an agreement with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo consoles. Activision Blizzard's CEO, Bobby Kotick, confirmed during the FTC case that they are likely to create Call of Duty games for future Nintendo consoles, adhering to the terms of the agreement.

While these agreements offer reassurance about Call of Duty, concerns remain about Cloud Gaming. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has expressed worry over Xbox Game Pass potentially holding 70% of the cloud gaming market share, which could lead to reduced innovation and choice for UK gamers in the future.

Despite this new development, attention remains focused on Microsoft's response to cloud gaming concerns and how it will navigate potential challenges in the gaming space.

#THE S MEDIA #Media Milenial #Gaming #Microsoft #Sony #Call of Duty #PlayStation #Activision Blizzard #Acquisition #Anti-trust Case #Cloud Gaming #Monopoly Concerns #Console Exclusivity

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