Microsoft Corp. And nintendo Co. formalized its agreement to bring Call of Duty on Nintendo platforms for a decade, a move designed to allay fears that the hit game could become an Xbox exclusive.
The two companies have “negotiated and signed a legally binding 10-year agreement” which will see Call of Duty distributed to Nintendo gamers on the same day and with the same features as its Xbox version, Microsoft President Brad Smith tweeted Tuesday. The Redmond, Washington-based company engaged to do so in December, subject to its proposed $69 billion acquisition of Call of Duty editor ActivisionBlizzard Inc. by the way.
The first-person shooter title is at the heart of the objections – most strongly raised by the console rival sony Group Corp. — to Microsoft’s deal, prompted by fears the software giant might get exclusivity on too big a franchise. Call of Duty is consistently at the top of the sales charts and its most recent version has occupied the Seat n°1 in the United States since its launch in November, according to market tracker NPD.
Sony has raised concerns about Microsoft making the game exclusive to its platforms, and those fears have been addressed. echoes by the UK’s antitrust watchdog, which has suggested that Microsoft may be forced to sell the franchise to complete its takeover of Activision. The Nintendo Pact is Microsoft’s way of demonstrating its commitment to keeping the games it acquires platform independent, and the company has extended an offer on the same terms to Sony, which the Tokyo-based PlayStation maker has until now. now refused.
We have now signed a binding 10-year contract to bring Xbox games to Nintendo gamers. It’s just part of our commitment to bringing Xbox games and Activision titles like Call of Duty to more players on more platforms. pic.twitter.com/JmO0hzw1BO
—Brad Smith (@BradSmi) February 21, 2023
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