According to a Microsoft statement, the highly anticipated release ofCall of Dutygames on Xbox Game Pass may take longer than expected. Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is ongoing and not without complications. That hasn’t minimized excitement forCall of Dutyreleases to come to Xbox Game Pass once the acquisition has been completed, however. But even with a quick and timely acquisition, there are hurdles that could keepCall of Dutyaway for some time yet.
The Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard has hit some hurdles, particularly with the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority. The CMA has been particularly receptive to Sony’s argument thatreleasingCall of Dutyon Xbox Game Passwould make its subscription service challenging to compete with. As a result, Microsoft has made some significant concessions, while also revealing a surprising amount of information regarding currentCall of Dutycontracts.
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In one response to the CMA, Microsoft explains that even if it wanted to, it can’t putCall of Dutygames on Xbox Game Pass “for a number of years.” That’s becauseActivision Blizzard and Sonyalready have an agreement. This agreement, apparently, restricts the ability of Activision Blizzard from puttingCall of Dutygames on Xbox Game Pass. This agreement precedes the acquisition, but Microsoft would be beholden to it after the acquisition closes.
There are no specific details provided by Microsoft regarding this agreement. It’s unclear how many years it would last, whatCall of Dutygameswould be “restricted,” or what deal Sony made that included these restrictions. What it does make clear is that Sony has been working to counter the possibility ofCall of Dutybeing released on Xbox Game Pass for some time.
Even with the “restrictions” placed on theCall of Dutyfranchise for the foreseeable future, Microsoft clearly thinks the acquisition is well worth it even if it has to wait. And understandably so, becauseCall of Dutyis one of the biggest franchises out there and would grant an immediate level of added value toXbox Game Passwhen it does arrive.
Needless to say, theacquisition of Activision Blizzardis very messy and even if the UK’s CMA ultimately lets the acquisition through, Microsoft has plenty of other hurdles to cross afterward. Regardless of where fans stand regarding the future ofCall of Duty, it’s probably for the best that a $69 billion acquisition faces a significant amount of review. And even better thatCall of Dutydoesn’t become platform exclusive with the flip of a switch, at Microsoft’s whim.
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