Head of Xbox Phil Spencer announced Microsoft and Sony Interactive Entertainment have signed a “binding agreement” to keep the Call of Duty franchise on PlayStation consoles once the Activision Blizzard acquisition has closed. Specific terms for the agreement have not been announced, but both Spencer and Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith shared official statements regarding the agreement.
Phil Spencer confirmed the news on the morning of July 16 after extensive talks with Sony Interactive Entertainment. The Xbox CEO looks forward to a future where players have more choice about where to play their favorite games. This binding agreement comes months after Microsoft entered signed 10-year deals to bring the Call of Duty franchise to Nintendo Switch, Steam, and streaming services. Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan called the 10-year deal “inadequate” for the company, so more favorable terms may have been applied for this particular agreement.
Microsoft and Sony Sign Binding Agreement for Call of Duty
“We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and Sony have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard,” said head of Xbox Phil Spencer on Twitter. “We look forward to a future where players globally have more choice to play their favorite games.”
“From day one of this acquisition, we’ve been committed to addressing the concerns of regulators, platform and game developers, and consumers,” Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith said on Twitter. “Even after we cross the finish line for this deal’s approval, we will remain focused on ensuring that Call of Duty remains available on more platforms and for more consumers than ever before.”
The binding agreement comes just days after Microsoft was awarded the right to close the acquisition of Activision Blizzard after a legal battle with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. FTC attempted to appeal the court’s decision, but the appeal was ultimately denied.
