Regulators have raised concerns that Microsoft could block the release of the hit Call of Duty franchise on rival game consoles. Microsoft says it has offered Sony a 10-year deal for Call of Duty, which will be released on PlayStation the same day it arrives on Xbox. The US giant is trying to calm the fears of regulators and rivals.
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Microsoft’s The company has “made a 10-year commitment” to deliver the hit game Call of Duty, games boss Phil Spencer said on Tuesday evening. Nintendo It follows the closing of the Activision Blizzard acquisition as US tech giants seek to calm antitrust fears from regulators and rivals.
Nintendo was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.
It’s unclear if this commitment is legally binding, or if Nintendo signed it anyway. Microsoft was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.
Spencer also said that Microsoft is “committed” to offering Call of Duty on the Steam game distribution platform at the same time as the Xbox once the deal closes.
The announcements came after Microsoft President Brad Smith said on Monday that the company was doing just that Sony offered a 10-year contract To make every new release of Call of Duty available of sony PlayStation console at the same time as Xbox.
Microsoft’s commitment to one of the most popular gaming franchises in history, Call of Duty, comes at a time when regulators and competitors are tightening their grip on the company. Acquires $69 billion from Activision was proposed in January. Activision is the developer for Call of Duty.
European Union and UK regulators have opened antitrust investigations merger to see whether the deal would harm competition. The EU is concerned that Microsoft could block access to games such as Call of Duty for its competitors.
Microsoft tried to ease fears this week with its Call of Duty commitments. The Redmond-based company claims that Activision’s acquisition will be good for gamers and increase competition in the industry.
Microsoft is trying to catch up to rival Sony and the success of its PlayStation 5 console. One of Microsoft’s biggest problems is the lack of first-party games that Sony has invested heavily in. A strong list of games is useful for console sales.
The company also intends to strengthen its cloud gaming offering – where users can effectively stream games without having to purchase them individually. Completing the Activision deal will help Microsoft grow its game catalog for the service.
