Ever since Microsoft announced its intention to acquire the Activision Blizzard Group for roughly $70 billion, the biggest acquisition in the video game industry has been closely watched. The takeover is expected to be completed sometime in 2023 and will have major repercussions for the entire gaming industry. One of the most significant repercussions has to do with the Call of Duty series, which is hugely popular on PlayStation. However, Sony is unhappy with Microsoft’s latest offering for the game as they fear that their PlayStation version will be sabotaged. The concerns raised by Sony were disclosed in a document submitted to the UK Competition and Markets Authority, including: the rise in prices for Call of Duty for the PlayStation, the drop in the quality of the PlayStation version, the lack of investment in the multiplayer mode. experience on PlayStation or exclusive availability of Call of Duty on Game Pass.
Sony concerns
Sony is concerned that Microsoft will find ways to harm the PlayStation version of Call of Duty. They believe that Microsoft can release this version, in which bugs and errors appear only at the end of the game or after later updates. Although these deteriorations can be quickly noticed, at this stage it will probably be too late to correct them. In addition, Sony is concerned that Microsoft will raise the price of the PlayStation game and not be able to invest in multiplayer on the console. What’s certain is that Microsoft will require the game to be available only through Game Pass, which means that if you want to play the very latest episodes of the Call of Duty series, you’ll have to buy an Xbox Game subscription. .
Winning strategy?
The good news is that even if Microsoft acquires Activision Blizzard Group, Sony may still have the rights to distribute new Call of Duty games on the PlayStation. Current antitrust provisions require Microsoft to allow Sony access to new Call of Duty games. However, how does Microsoft intend to ensure that Sony does not interfere with the development of Game Pass? Therefore, Microsoft is trying to convince Sony to become part of the xCloud gaming platform, which is hosted on Xbox Live and allows gamers to access games from any compatible device, including the PlayStation. If Sony decides to join xCloud, gamers will be able to pay for an Xbox Live subscription and use the platform to enjoy all Call of Duty titles on PlayStation.
New opportunities
Even if Sony doesn’t want to ally with Microsoft, the Activision-Blizzard acquisition still presents interesting opportunities for fans of the Call of Duty series. The ability to have exclusive versions of a game on different platforms can lead to a unique experience for each console and can lead to increased diversity and innovation in games. In addition, the merger of Microsoft and Activision Blizzard clearly shows that Microsoft is very committed to the video game community and is willing to invest nearly 70 billion dollars to achieve this goal.
Unlimited Possibilities
With the almost certain integration of Call of Duty on PS Plus, fans of the series will have access to these games more easily and at a better price. In addition, players can see new content for each platform, making Call of Duty an even more exciting game. However, all this remains to be seen as the deal between Microsoft and Sony will take time and may face some unforeseen setbacks. But one thing is for sure: if this project succeeds, the future of Call of Duty games looks bright and the possibilities are endless.