The Redmond-based tech firm is keen to swipe in Activision Blizzard, and as a result, we often hear that the publisher’s flagship IP, Call of Duty, would remain available on the rival platform…

Call of Duty is such a cornerstone in the deal that it has prompted the UK and the European Union to launch a more profound investigation (and likely, the US will not immediately nod in favor of the deal either like how Saudi Arabia did; Brazil has at least consulted the parties involved), so that Microsoft can buy Activision Blizzard King for nearly $69 billion. Microsoft already promises the stars from the sky, so it can suck in this publisher after Bethesda.

Microsoft has told the New York Times that it has offered Sony a 10-year deal for Call of Duty. That means the annual shooter would be on PlayStation consoles until 2032. It’s odd to see it because the agreement between Sony and Activision Blizzard implies that Call of Duty beta tests (and much other content) first appear on PlayStation. Immediately after the acquisition claim was announced, Microsoft stressed that it would keep Call of Duty on PlayStation. Still, it was not specified how long the franchise would remain on Sony’s hardware after the deals were already in place.

In September, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer said that Microsoft had guaranteed Sony a few more years beyond the current agreements, to which Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Jim Ryan said the Redmond-based offer was inadequate on man levels. By the end of October, Microsoft had already stated that as long as there was PlayStation hardware, Call of Duty would get a native PlayStation version. In comparison, ten years is a narrower but more definable horizon.

Sony has reportedly forbidden Call of Duty from appearing on Xbox Game Pass in a contract, which would also give Microsoft a huge advantage, as it would mean that many subscribers would jump on the game available on its subscription service from day one…

Source: PCGamer