Microsoft plans to continue releasing Call of Duty titles on PlayStation for several years beyond any existing contractual agreements between Activision Blizzard and Sony. Xbox Boss Phil Spencer suggested as much last week, but PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan isn’t happy with the proposed deal.
Since the announcement of Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, there’s been an ongoing conversation about Call of Duty’s potential exclusivity on Xbox platforms. While Microsoft has been adamant that won’t happen (within the foreseeable future), it seems negotiations with Sony aren’t going well.
According to GamesIndustry.biz, Ryan called Microsoft’s current offer “inadequate on many levels” for PlayStation owners.
“I hadn’t intended to comment on what I understood to be a private business discussion, but I feel the need to set the record straight because Phil Spencer brought this into the public forum,” Ryan said. “Microsoft has only offered for Call of Duty to remain on PlayStation for three years after the current agreement between [Activision Blizzard] and Sony ends.”
“After almost 20 years of Call of Duty on PlayStation, their proposal was inadequate on many levels and failed to take account of the impact on our gamers,” Ryan continues. “We want to guarantee PlayStation gamers continue to have the highest quality Call of Duty experience, and Microsoft’s proposal undermines this principle.”
There are still many hurdles in place before Microsoft owns Activision Blizzard. Most importantly, regulatory bodies in the UK and Brazil must approve the acquisition first.
Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.
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