It has been revealed that Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation for ten years following the Microsoft-Activision deal. This is a similar deal that was offered to Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch platform (and whatever comes next) and it’s a ‘binding pledge’ by Microsoft to ensure that Call of Duty remains accessible to as many gamers as possible. This news comes following weeks of legal squabbles that saw multiple parties fighting for and against the record-high $69 billion acquisition attempt.

For the longest time, Sony was resisting signing such a deal with Microsoft, but now that there’s almost nothing preventing Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision, the Japanese tech titan has relented. It was announced by the Microsoft Gaming CEO, Phil Spencer, in a simple statement that revealed that we’re all one step closer to ending this lengthy debacle.

Call of Duty Isn’t Going Anywhere

Image Credit: Activision

From the moment Microsoft announced that it had intentions to purchase Activision Blizzard, concerns started rising all around the world. There were regulatory bodies that voiced their worries, with many suggesting that it was a takeover attempt by Microsoft, with the tech firm seeking to monopolise the gaming industry. It turns out that it may not be the case, as Microsoft intends to keep Call of Duty universal and accessible on all the platforms that can host the series.

However, this ten-year agreement that has recently been revealed only includes Call of Duty. There are no indicators that any deal has been signed to include other Activision Blizzard games, such as Overwatch 2 or Diablo. This marks a sizeable change from the original offer that Microsoft sent over that Sony refused, as back then, it was stated that:

‘… the proposed agreement provided that Microsoft would keep all existing Activision console titles on Sony, including all future versions in the Call of Duty franchise or any other current Activision franchise on Sony through December 31st, 2027.’

So, while the concerns have been placated regarding Microsoft’s potential exclusivity of Call of Duty, there are now questions being raised about the future of every other Activision Blizzard franchise.

What’s Next For Call of Duty?

In 2023, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is reportedly going to be released – according to leaks. It’s a continuation of 2022’s Modern Warfare II, but that’s all we know at the moment. It is yet to be revealed, which is bucking the Call of Duty trend, as by now, the annual release would have been uncovered. In 2024, there are whispers on the newswire suggesting that the next Call of Duty game will be a Treyarch title and it’ll be set in the Gulf War.

That’s a theatre of war that we haven’t yet seen in Call of Duty – at least, not directly.

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