Microsoft explained why they offered Sony an agreement to release Call of Duty on PlayStation consoles for exactly 10 years. This was announced by the British Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). document in the case of purchase by the American platform owner of the publishing house Activision Blizzard.
Image source: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Keep in mind that if the acquisition of Activision Blizzard is completed, the rights to all of the publisher’s franchises, including Call of Duty, will be transferred to Microsoft. The company has repeatedly rejected suggestions about the possible deprivation of competitors’ access to Call of Duty and even offered guarantees from Sony, which it has rejected.
In an attempt to convince the CMA of the validity of the 10-year agreement, Microsoft makes the following argument: “Microsoft sees a period of 10 years as long enough for Sony to develop its own alternative to Call of Duty as a leading publisher and platformer.”.
Image Source: Steam (BenXL)
In other words, Microsoft doesn’t think the end of the 10-year contract will let Sony down “Precipice’s Edge”, since the Japanese platform owner can also spend the period mentioned for the production of its own competitor. Sony itself has little faith in such a prospect.
“Even if SIE has the ability and resources to develop an equally successful franchise, it would take years and billions of dollars to create a competitor for Call of Duty – as EA’s Battlefield shows, such attempts are more than likely to fail.” sentenced.”said Sony in October.
Image Credit: Activision Blizzard
As noted kotakuThe argument about the lack of opportunities to create your own hits was used by Microsoft itself: in its opinion, a massive takeover after the dominance of Sony and PS4 was one of the last ways to rebalance the market and raise the level of competition.
Microsoft previously said it was willing to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation until the end of time, however “The idea of signing a contract with the word ‘forever’ looks a bit silly”. The deal between the American platform owner and Activision Blizzard is valued at a record $68.7 billion and has to be approved by all major regulators.
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