Microsoft To End Call of Duty Platform Exclusivity

Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard is now complete, with a purchase price of $68.7 billion. Despite this significant change, Xbox head Phil Spencer has reassured Call of Duty players on other platforms that there won't be any favoritism.

The deal's implications extend to franchises like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Diablo, which had PlayStation fans concerned about their favorite games disappearing from their consoles. However, Microsoft has reached an agreement to ensure Call of Duty games continue to be available on PlayStation platforms for the foreseeable future.

Some Xbox users hoped that Call of Duty would be swiftly added to Game Pass, but Activision Blizzard dampened those expectations by announcing that its game catalog wouldn't join Game Pass until 2024. Additionally, if Xbox players anticipated an edge over other platforms regarding Call of Duty, Phil Spencer has different intentions.

During a podcast, Spencer confirmed that all platforms will receive the same content for Call of Duty. He stated, "We have no goal of somehow using Call of Duty to get you to buy an Xbox console."

Content exclusivity, such as PlayStation-exclusive skins in Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone, and the MW3 beta debuting exclusively on PlayStation, contradicts Spencer's philosophy.

"We have been on the other side of some of those exclusives; even this beta wasn't available on Xbox in the first week. I don't think that helps the community. I don't think that helps the game. So, whether you're a PlayStation player, Nintendo player, PC player, or Xbox console player, I want you to feel 100% a part of the Call of Duty community."

The full implications of the Activision Blizzard purchase on Call of Duty are yet to be seen. However, more clarity will likely emerge with the release of Modern Warfare 3 worldwide on November 10 and as the upcoming game's life cycle unfolds.