The Call of Duty series will not be part of Xbox Game Pass for the foreseeable future. Previous agreements between Activision and Sony will be honored by Microsoft. Nevertheless, Sony is nervous, because Microsoft shouldn’t hold back forever.
Call of Duty not on Xbox Game Pass
Call of Duty games will not be part of Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass “for a few years,” the company has told regulators. A footnote refers to a tweet by Phil Spencer that “Previous Agreements” between Activision and Sony alludes to the fact that Microsoft would be banned from including Call of Duty in Xbox Game Pass even if the Activision acquisition were approved.
Microsoft will not be more specific than the statement “for a few years” (source: GameSpot). Sony shouldn’t be reassured by that. According to current contracts between Sony and Activion, “Call of Duty” will only be available for the PlayStation for three years. Then the agreement, which was concluded as a co-marketing deal for the PlayStation 4, ends.
Microsoft, in turn, has criticized the British competition authority’s decision to expand the investigation into the planned acquisition of Activision. The group claims that the regulator Sony’s complaints “without appropriate critical examination” would take over. The competition authority fears that the acquisition could result in Microsoft making Activision content available exclusively for its own platform.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is nearing release:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | Gameplay – Dark Water Level
PlayStation Showcase canceled because of Microsoft?
Recently, an insider claimed that there will be no PlayStation presentation this year because of Microsoft. Sony is said to be afraid to introduce exclusive PlayStation titles, which could undermine arguments against Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision. The presentation is said to have been postponed without having a concrete follow-up date in mind.
