Today, Microsoft’s CEO of Gaming, Phil Spencer, mentioned that he had been in talks with Sony this week. Among those conversations is that Xbox intends to honor all current contracts and its desire to keep Call of Duty on the PlayStation.
While it’s nice to see that Phil Spencer has at least attempted to ease people’s minds over the acquisition. I wonder if this has had the opposite effect.
It’s been a rough time, with plenty of gaming discourse making the rounds. Ever since Microsoft had announced that they were in the process of acquiring Activision-Blizzard to the sum of nearly $70 Billion, the internet has been at odds. Both Xbox and PlayStation fans have been wondering just what will ultimately happen with the catalog of titles that at least for now, are still considered 3rd party games.
Many are fearful that once this acquisition finalizes, a number of franchises will no longer be available on other platforms. More specifically, the Call of Duty series has been at the forefront of mentioned games that could be ripped from the PlayStation console.
While Phil Spencer looks to have extended an olive branch, the wording is a bit vague. I’m not trying to be that guy, but for example, when Phil claims Xbox wants to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation. Is he referring to current games, like Warzone? Or future installments of the game? Look, I like Phil, and he and his team have done a fantastic job of turning around Xbox. However, as someone who has been openly against 3rd party games becoming 1st party games. I’ll be honest and say that after the Zenimax Bethesda acquisition and now this, I am a bit concerned.
As for what happens in the future, we still have a long while until this deal is completed. I expect to see more of Phil Spencer and Activision-Blizzard discussing what will happen with their titles. Until then, I don’t see this subject leaving anyone’s lips anytime soon.